Vol. 498 No. 5
45 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason it is necessary to have retention periods for cattle and sheep in view of increased traceability of cattle movements and numbers; if he will abolish this in view of the current fodder shortage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27870/98]
The requirement for retention periods during which animals applied on under the various EU headage and premium schemes must be held and maintained by the applicant is an integral part of each scheme and is set out in EU regulations. In the case of the cattle headage and beef cow and suckler cow premium schemes the regulations allow for animals applied on to be replaced by other eligible animals during the retention period. Retention periods serve to ensure that beneficiaries under the schemes are genuine farmers who normally maintain livestock on an ongoing basis.
Different retention periods apply under different schemes ranging from two months in the case of cattle and beef cow headage, sheep headage and special beef premium to 100 days in the case of ewe premium and six months in the case of suckler cow premium. The longer retention period for suckler cows reflects the fact that these animals are in fact the main breeding stock and are not normally disposed of except in the case of normal stock replacement. The shorter retention period under the headage and special beef premium schemes reflects the fact that these animals are part of a producers trading stock.
