Pedigree Blonde d'Aquitaine breeder Sean Savage from Ballynahinch, Co Down is involved in an ongoing dispute with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Northern Ireland surrounding the valuations of tuberculosis (TB) reactors from his herd.

On 6 February 2016 the first animal went down as a TB reactor in the Shanvalley Blondes herd following skin tests on two bulls. A subsequent full herd test the following week identified a further nine reactor animals in the herd, including six in-calf females.

Pedigree animals valued in "15 or 20 minutes"

“The DARD valuers that came out had little knowledge of pedigree Blonde cattle and valued the ten animals in 15 or 20 minutes,” Sean’s brother Paul told the Irish Farmers Journal.

The values were significantly lower than the Savage brothers had expected and the results were subsequently declined by Sean, meaning an independent valuer had to be appointed.

Paul said that the new valuer worked as an auctioneer in England and had more experience of pedigree cattle, however his valuations were still lower than they expected. Sean reluctantly accepted the compensation offers, but DARD did not accept the independent valuations, and as a result the case is going before an appeal hearing in June.

A second herd test took place on 30 March and a further five animals, including an in-calf heifer and an in-calf second calver, went down in the test.

Independent valuer from England

The same DARD valuers came back again and valued the animals, however Sean refused to sign the valuation, meaning it was not accepted or declined. Paul said that the independent valuer from England came back, however his valuations have not been disclosed to brothers yet.

On enquiry, a DARD spokesperson said they could not comment on an individual case but pointed out that in 2015, 99.87% of farmers accepted DARD’s on-farm valuations.

The first ten animals were removed from the farm on 16 February, however the five reactors from the second herd test are still on the farm.

In a letter replying to questions from SDLP MLA Sean Rogers, agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill said that it was explained to Mr. Savage that failure to sign the valuation within three days could lead to the compulsory purchase of the animals. “However, at no time was the serving of writs or PSNI intervention discussed,” she said.

The valuations are an insult after 22 years of breeding

The Savage brothers also maintain that the second herd test occurred before the required 60-day interval between two tests, and in effect, was illegal. However, Minister O’Neill states in the letter than a 42-day interval from the initial stabilising test to the next herd test is DARD policy.

Paul states that the stress surrounding the events has taken a toll on his brother’s health. “Sean wants to be clear of TB like any other herd. It is not the issue of culling the cattle, it is the valuations that are an insult after 22 years of breeding,” he said.