IFA deputy president Richard Kennedy said that two recent, well-attended IFA meetings for thoroughbred breeders were called to listen to the concerns of breeders.

“The biggest concern expressed by farmer breeders at the meetings held in Limerick and Kildare was the new 30-day foal notification system, which has been introduced in Ireland this year for the first time,” said Richard Kennedy, who is also chair of the IFA’s horse project team.

Farmer breeders at the meeting could not understand why a different system of notification is in operation in the UK.

This is an industry-agreed initiative administered by Weatherbys Ireland.

Breeders were very critical of the lack of interaction and communication from the industry stakeholders, which supports this new system of notification of foal births.

The 30-day notification was a key recommendation outlined by the ADTF report. Signatories to this report are Horse Racing Ireland, the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, Weatherbys Ireland, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners, Goffs Bloodstock Sales, Tattersalls Ireland and Goresbridge Sales Ltd.

Breeders queried why a different system had been introduced in Ireland this year to that introduced in the UK in 2018.

Kennedy said that the IFA supports the principle of the 30-day foal notification, the purpose of which is equine welfare, transparency and traceability.

The IFA encouraged breeders to comply with the scheme. However, he clarified that there is no penalty for non-compliance.

Kennedy said that “any extra cost on breeders resulting from the new scheme would not be tolerated at a time when many breeders are fighting for survival”.