A Tipperary farmer is pleading for common sense in relation to on-farm inspections during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The large hill flocks of Sarah Kehoe, her father and uncle share a commonage on Slievenamon mountain.

The Department intends to carry out on-farm inspections, starting on Thursday 19 November and wants all animals penned and available for inspection.

This includes thousands of ewes and store lambs, as well as a large herd of bought-in dairy beef calves.

The animals cannot be looked after properly if we or employees have to isolate or test positive

“Since March, we have been limiting contacts and interaction with anyone outside the farms, to hopefully keep the virus at bay,” Sarah Kehoe said. “My children didn’t even play any sports this summer to minimise risk.”

She acknowledges that the Department has a job to do, but holds this is an unnecessary risk.

“The animals cannot be looked after properly if we or employees have to isolate or test positive.

“This has been an extremely trying year for everyone, and the prospect of on-farm inspections at this time is incredibly stressful. We have nothing to hide and our paperwork will verify that.”

Many of the ewes are running with rams on the mountain and the stress of penning and handling them during mating is a concern for her.