TB in deer threatening farmers' livelihoods, says Wicklow IFA
Local farmers complain of lack of action by the Department of Agriculture despite TB levels in deer found to be 100 times those in cattle last May, writes Shane Murphy.
The Wicklow IFA chair has called for the immediate rollout of a deer management programme.
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Wicklow IFA chair Tom Short has strongly criticised the lack of progress by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney in rolling out a deer management programme surrounding TB outbreaks.
Short said the minister and his officials have the results of the survey carried out by his department in Wicklow and published last May, which shows 16% of deer in the area to be infected with TB. This is nearly 100 times the rate achieved in cattle.
No progress
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However, the IFA argues that the authorities have not made progress on a programme to protect the livelihoods of farmers in the area and regards the existing National Deer Management Forum as unfit for purpose. Short said the delays are resulting in the problem worsening on the ground for farmers, with a larger area now chronically affected and unacceptable increases in TB levels recorded in neighbouring counties.
"While the minister and his officials procrastinate on this issue, farmers’ livelihoods are being taken away on a daily basis," Short said in a statement.
Short has called for the immediate rollout of a deer management programme where deer are associated with TB outbreaks on farms, administered and overseen by the veterinary section of the Department of Agriculture as the primary agency responsible for TB eradication in the country.
However, environmental organisations such as the Irish Wildlife Trust oppose the culling of deer to eradicate TB, arguing that badger culling has not resulted in the elimination of the disease in cattle.
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Title: TB in deer threatening farmers' livelihoods, says Wicklow IFA
Local farmers complain of lack of action by the Department of Agriculture despite TB levels in deer found to be 100 times those in cattle last May, writes Shane Murphy.
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Wicklow IFA chair Tom Short has strongly criticised the lack of progress by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney in rolling out a deer management programme surrounding TB outbreaks.
Short said the minister and his officials have the results of the survey carried out by his department in Wicklow and published last May, which shows 16% of deer in the area to be infected with TB. This is nearly 100 times the rate achieved in cattle.
No progress
However, the IFA argues that the authorities have not made progress on a programme to protect the livelihoods of farmers in the area and regards the existing National Deer Management Forum as unfit for purpose. Short said the delays are resulting in the problem worsening on the ground for farmers, with a larger area now chronically affected and unacceptable increases in TB levels recorded in neighbouring counties.
"While the minister and his officials procrastinate on this issue, farmers’ livelihoods are being taken away on a daily basis," Short said in a statement.
Short has called for the immediate rollout of a deer management programme where deer are associated with TB outbreaks on farms, administered and overseen by the veterinary section of the Department of Agriculture as the primary agency responsible for TB eradication in the country.
However, environmental organisations such as the Irish Wildlife Trust oppose the culling of deer to eradicate TB, arguing that badger culling has not resulted in the elimination of the disease in cattle.
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