Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 March 2015
312. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that local district veterinary offices are issuing letters to farmers, up to six weeks in advance of herd tests, instructing them not to medicate animals in advance of forthcoming tests; if his attention has been drawn to the animal welfare implications of such an instruction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12829/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is established practice under the TB Eradication Scheme that farmers are given a 6 week window within which to conduct their annual round test. This is done to afford the farmer sufficient flexibility to arrange the test in a way that best suits his or her farming enterprise.
The test notification letter also advises the farmer to avoid giving routine treatments in advance of the test. The reason for this is (i) to avoid the risk of inadvertently interfering with the test result and (ii) to avoid treated animals having to be retained on farms to comply with the post-treatment withdrawal period. This approach is in line with the key objectives of the Scheme, which are to have reactors removed from the farm as quickly as possible to minimise the restriction period and minimise risk of in-herd spread of the disease.
However, it should be stressed that a number of mechanisms are built into the arrangements to facilitate farmers in treating their animals. First, farmers are permitted to carry out urgent treatments, including for animal welfare related reasons, and this is made clear in the test notification letter. In addition, provision is made for farmers to bring forward the test date in order to facilitate their routine treatment schedules. Provision is made to address circumstances where a farmer finds it necessary to postpone a test because of particular circumstances.
In summary, I believe that it is necessary to have arrangements in place to deal with the medication of animals in a manner which is consistent with the objectives of the TB Scheme and that there are sufficient flexibilities built into the system to ensure that there are no animal welfare implications arising from these requirements.
