Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 December 2018
262. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the requirements for farmers operating in a locked-down system for the purposes of TB eradication (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51200/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra263. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of beef herds operating in a locked-down system for the purposes of TB eradication here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51201/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra264. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of feedlots operating here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51202/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 264, inclusive, together.
The number of feedlot herds currently restricted under the TB Eradication programme is 337.
When a herd meets the criteria to be regarded as a ‘Feedlot’ under the TB Eradication Programme, the herd is restricted under the TB Regulations and a special official supervisory and testing protocol is established. Such herds are not exempted from testing, reactor removal or disinfection requirements. Restricted Feedlots are TB tested at least once a year. Since Ireland attained officially Brucellosis Free Status herd level testing for Brucellosis is no longer carried out.
In the context of the TB eradication programme, a feedlot’ herd is a herd that comprises a ‘non-breeding’ unit which disposes of all cattle direct for slaughter and fulfils at least one of the following three criteria:
(i) the cattle are permanently housed (never on pasture) or
(ii) there are no contiguous holdings/lands with cattle i.e. must not have any neighbour contacts either through cattle being confined exclusively in yards/building or if intending to graze cattle the land is secured so there can be no contact with cattle e.g. surrounded by tillage, residential industrial/recreational units or impenetrable rivers, roads or walls or
(iii) the boundaries are walled, double fenced or equivalent so as to prevent any direct contact with cattle on contiguous lands/premises/holdings
Furthermore, there must be no evidence of within herd acquisition or spread of TB.
Thus a Feedlot herd, is a herd that poses minimal risk of infecting other cattle because of effective isolation from other herds.
In addition the following conditions apply:
- The land used to graze animals must be nominated in advance and inspected and passed by a veterinary inspector.
- A Feedlot, being a TB restricted herd, is not permitted to sell cattle on the open market other than directly to slaughter.
- Feedlot herds that fatten females must have the capability of rearing any unplanned calves until slaughtered or the herd has been de-restricted.
- If animals are being put on grass, the herd must be tested before being ‘let out’.
- Animal Identification and Movement Notification procedures must be complied with.
- All testing requirements must be complied with.
- If TB is diagnosed but following an epidemiological inspection there is no evidence of within herd spread the feedlot may continue to buy in.
- When TB is diagnosed specific conditions with respect to disinfection of premises and equipment and also storage and spreading of manure/slurry must be respected.
- Any manure and slurry on the holding must be stored for at least two months prior to being moved off or spread on the holding.
- Manure/slurry may not be spread on ground to be grazed within the succeeding 4 weeks.
- Test reactor animals are removed for slaughter under permit.
- Inconclusive reactor animals that are being slaughtered before re-test must be moved to slaughter on foot of a movement permit to ensure they are subject to appropriate post mortem examination.
- If it is ascertained that infection was acquired within the holding, permission to buy in is suspended. The herd is only de-restricted and allowed to buy in again if all the animals are free from clinical signs of tuberculosis, cleansing and disinfection of the premises and utensils has been completed and all animals on the holding have reacted negatively to at least two consecutive tuberculin tests, the first no less than 60 days and the second no less than four months and no more than 12 months after the removal of the last positive reactor. The herd may apply for feedlot status again should the need arise.
The term ‘locked down herds’ is not a term used under the TB Eradication Programme.
