Some 45 herds on the Iveragh Peninsula in Co Kerry are locked up with TB and the impact of this is incalculable, according to the chairman of Kerry IFA Pat O’Driscoll.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal on Thursday evening, he said that there are 302 reactors on the peninsula.

“One hundred of these reactors are between two farms. This has come completely out of the blue,” he said.

At a meeting in Caherciveen earlier on Thursday on the issue he said the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, and his officials must recognise the enormous financial burden that TB controls impose on farmers.

“Where controls are deemed necessary to achieve eradication, farmers must be fully compensated for the disruption and costs imposed on their business.

“Apart from the financial loss, there is also the emotional trauma for a farmer when the herd is taken away.”

The impact of this is incalculable

Addressing the main contributing factors – such as badgers and deer to ongoing TB in cattle – must be a priority, he said.

He said all the resources necessary must be provided in the South Kerry area to bring this problem under control.

Changes to live valuation scheme

Meanwhile, IFA animal health chairman Pat Farrell said IFA is demanding changes to the live valuation scheme that will ensure farmers are fully compensated for the animals they lose.

IFA has identified shortcomings of up to €300 in the live valuation scheme for some animals.

Further amendments to the income supplement scheme are being sought by IFA, which the association says have to fully address the actual income loss experienced by farmers due to TB breakdowns.

Farrell said these issues have been brought to the attention of the Minister and his officials over the last 12 months and must be addressed as a matter of urgency.

Read more

North Cork has most TB reactors

Badgers to be vaccinated as part of TB eradication