DEAR SIR:

In reply to The Dealer and the article headed “Ned’s atomic dustbin has another meltdown” of 7 December. I was surprised to read the tone and content of the article and the personal attack on me.

I would point out that I voiced my concern at the annual general meeting of the ICMSA in Limerick with regard to animal welfare because I was made aware of the issues on the ground and the way in which Jersey bull calves were being disposed of in Ireland.

I raised the issue at three previous meetings over the last few months

I had been reliably informed that Jersey bull calves were being lump-hammered and smothered with plastic bags as they had no value. I raised the issue at three previous meetings over the last few months as it had been brought to my attention by farmers on previous occasions.

I have been told that Jersey bull calves are being dropped at knackeries untagged but that the tags are being left with cards at the counter of their offices.

I was surprised by the overreaction of The Dealer and Teagasc.

I am aware presently that Teagasc has a welfare officer who is working with one hand behind their back

What is needed here in this situation is that the Irish Farmers Journal would recommend editorially that Teagasc should employ at least three welfare officers rather than the one position currently in place and that these officers should be free to operate and complete their role in advising farmers. I am aware presently that Teagasc has a welfare officer who is working with one hand behind their back.

It is obvious to me that the overreaction in the Dealer is proof that there is a problem in calf rearing in Jersey bull calves on the ground. We are unfortunately following in the path of New Zealand where Jersey bull calves are destructed and this is now appearing in Ireland given the recent introduction of the Jersey breed.

I saw Jersey bull calves being destructed and very low environmental standards

New Zealand has a very low welfare and environmental standard. I have been to New Zealand on three occasions - once, officially as minister of state and twice privately. On my State visit, I was taken to farming operations which were state of the art but on my personal visits, I saw Jersey bull calves being destructed and very low environmental standards.

I would challenge you any day on these points. From my own point of view, I have a dairy herd of approximately 200 cows and rear 40% of the calves and sell the remainder to the market.

We run our farm to a high welfare and environmental standard

Like all farmers, we lose a certain number of calves – approximately 2-3% at calving and in late spring to illnesses such as rotavirus and viral pneumonia which ups the mortality. We run our farm to a high welfare and environmental standard.

Invitation

I want to say that I understand my agriculture and I do not go under a pseudonym and nor do I know The Dealer but I extend an invitation to him to visit my farm at any time and he is welcome to stay for lunch.

If he prefers, he can come dressed in Hong Kong-style clothing so he cannot be identified – the same gear as the protesters in Hong Kong wore to disguise themselves from the communist Chinese.

Farmers would then have no threat from the welfare community

I would ask you as the farming paper and Teagasc as the agricultural advisory group and research centre funded by the State to put a proper welfare policy in place and not to be sheltering and then you won’t need to refer to farmers nor ridicule them such as the ridicule in your article on myself for bringing this matter to the public attention.

Farmers would then have no threat from the welfare community and such groups as Compassion in World Farming, vegans and other groups conscious of problems at farm level.

I hope you and Teagasc will accept my request on welfare and environment issues.

Farmers could then have a more successful farm environment without fear of any welfare groups whereas your commentary in the article is obstructing the statements of others.

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Ned's atomic dustbin has another meltdown