The only mart in Northern Ireland (NI) currently within the bluetongue temporary control zone (TCZ) in Co Down will be able to resume some operations in the coming days.
Saintfield Mart has been unable to function in December to date, as it fell within the 20km TCZ put in place around the initial suspect cases found on a farm outside Bangor.
However, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in NI has confirmed the mart will be able to accept livestock from outside the TCZ from Tuesday 16 December.
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Any livestock sold can then move to farms either inside or outside the TCZ.
Slaughter
However, Saintfield still won’t be allowed to take in animals from farms within the TCZ. Farmers in the area can only move cattle and sheep to direct slaughter for the time being.
Those movement restrictions are currently under review and once further surveillance work is completed early next week, the department should be in a position to inform of next steps.
“We expect to make further announcements on this towards the end of next week,” confirmed DAERA chief vet Brian Dooher.
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The only mart in Northern Ireland (NI) currently within the bluetongue temporary control zone (TCZ) in Co Down will be able to resume some operations in the coming days.
Saintfield Mart has been unable to function in December to date, as it fell within the 20km TCZ put in place around the initial suspect cases found on a farm outside Bangor.
However, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in NI has confirmed the mart will be able to accept livestock from outside the TCZ from Tuesday 16 December.
Any livestock sold can then move to farms either inside or outside the TCZ.
Slaughter
However, Saintfield still won’t be allowed to take in animals from farms within the TCZ. Farmers in the area can only move cattle and sheep to direct slaughter for the time being.
Those movement restrictions are currently under review and once further surveillance work is completed early next week, the department should be in a position to inform of next steps.
“We expect to make further announcements on this towards the end of next week,” confirmed DAERA chief vet Brian Dooher.
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