Farmers are being turned away from factories in the run-up to Christmas due to industrial action by veterinary inspectors.

Factories affected include Irish Country Meats in Navan, Rosderra in Edenderry, ABP in Clones and Dawn Meats in Slane, the Irish Farmers Journal understands.

It is understood that more factories could be affected.

Not enough TVIs

Normal kill cannot be guaranteed at factories because there are not enough temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) as a result of the action.

Industrial action by the TVIs has been ongoing since the end of June this year.

But this week’s refusal of factories to book in animals is an escalation of the problem.

The Department subsequently backed down on the deal

Veterinary Ireland and the Department of Agriculture have been in talks for a number of months over employment terms, mediated by the retired head of the Workplace Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that a deal was struck between the two parties on 21 November and that this was announced at the Veterinary Ireland AGM on 24 November.

The Department subsequently backed down on the deal, which has resulted in further industrial action by TVIs.

The Irish Farmers Journal has contacted Veterinary Ireland and the Department of Agriculture for comment.

Farmers have already been affected by action taken by TVIs.

AHI said that it has “significantly reduced the amount of information being captured since the end of June 2018”.

The news comes at a busy kill time in the run-up to Christmas.

Over the last five weeks, the average beef kill has been 40,100 head and the sheep kill last week was over 65,000 and this week is expected to be the same. Pig farmers are warning that a backlog could build up rapidly this week as a result of the action, given that the next two weeks are short processing weeks. Many pig farmers are selling pigs this week to generate cash-flow ahead of Christmas.

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