IFA animal health chair Bert Stewart has strongly criticised the inactivity of the Department of Agriculture on key issues raised by the IFA in relation to the Live Valuation Scheme.

He said: “The IFA has raised very serious problems since last year with the minister and senior Department officials about the accuracy of the guideline prices and the lack of independence of the live valuers. This is preventing farmers from achieving a fair and accurate market value assessment of their animals.”

The animal health chair said the key element of the Live Valuation Scheme and the fundamental principle it is built on is the independence of the live valuers.

This has been seriously undermined by the use of non-market criteria in assessing the value of animals and compounded by the bureaucratic approach by the Department with the live valuers.

Key elements

The IFA has identified key elements of the valuers’ code of practice and the guidelines for valuers that must be amended to provide a fair and accurate valuation of TB reactors.

The IFA chair said serious concerns have also been raised with the minister and his officials in relation to the accuracy of the guideline prices compiled by the Department.

To provide a fair reference point for all breeding animals, the guideline prices must be compiled only from full clearance and dispersal sales, as agreed when the scheme was established nearly 20 years ago, Stewart said.