Vets are likely to charge between €150 and €200 (including VAT) for the animal health plan required under the Knowledge Transfer Programme, according to Veterinary Ireland’s chair of the Food Animal National Committee Conor Geraghty.

When asked what fees would be sought, Geraghty said that individual practices would set their own rate, but the work for the Knowledge Transfer Programme is comparable to the on-farm assessments carried out by vets under the Johne’s disease pilot control programme.

Based on this, he “imagines” Knowledge Transfer fees would be between the two above figures. In year one, the vet will input two hours of work per farmer, followed by one hour in years two and three. That could be an underestimate of the work required in the latter two years, said Geraghty.

As proposed so far, participating farmers will have to undertake two animal health measures, he said.

One is a mandatory measure for all farmers focusing on calf health and farm biosecurity. A farmer must then choose a second measure, along with his vet, from areas such as fertility, parasite control or lameness.

The vet will then carry out a detailed risk assessment on the farm. The animal health plan has the potential to be hugely beneficial for farmers, claims Geraghty.

“I know there will be a lot of aggro at the start. But we have a serious issue with calf health and mortality here. This is the first time anyone is attempting to address it.”

Vets had little input into drawing up the programme, said Geraghty. And added that agricultural planners would be paid €80/hour for facilitating the programme – more than vets. He said he was told this by Department officials.

IFA president Eddie Downey said the IFA is opposed to the involvement of vets in Knowledge Transfer and has objected with the minister and his department.