EPA chops size of two Cork pig farms

TWO pig units in Mitchelstown, County Cork have been told by the EPA they must halve their sow and other pig numbers by 50 per cent in order to acquire their IPC licenses. Received in the past week the order has infuriated the producers who say they will receive no compensation for such a halving of their businesses.

Both producers are operating at their current size for some years. This is understood to be the first time the EPA has ordered any farmer to cut the size of his unit. The two producers were this week seeking an urgent meeting with the Agency.

The EPA order to cut the size of the two pig units has been made on the basis odour emissions. However, the producers strongly contest the methodology of the study of emissions from their units used by the EPA. They claim the study was based on a Dutch model which is not transferable to Irish conditions. They claim to have received written backing on this from Teagasc pig specialists and independent pig consultants here and to have submitted this to the EPA.

The two producers are Rory O'Brien and Anthony Hanrahan of Killicane with 2,200 and 1,600 integrated sow units respectively.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Rory O'Brien said the EPA order would reduce his output but leave him carrying all overheads. Pig farmers are only starting to recover from two disastrous years, he said. In addition there would be no guarantee that cutting his pig numbers by 50 per cent would reduce the odour.

He said it was unacceptable that complaints from one individual - as was the case for him - could effectively close down a business.