The IFA has again opposed the inclusion of additional pre-movement testing in the new TB strategy.

Pat Farrell, IFA animal health chair, said the proposal to introduce a 30-day pre-movement test would severely distort the marketing of animals and place an extra cost burden on the programme, while doing little or nothing to reduce TB.

“We need to address the real causes of TB, not put another wheel under the TB testing gravy train,” he said.

The IFA has called for the withdrawal of the TB herd risk letters which issued to farmers in August/September, the discontinuation of the new herd categorisation approach that was included in the herd risk letters and the implementation of an effective wildlife control programme.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands that there was a tense meeting between the IFA and the Department on Tuesday on the TB strategy, with controls on farms such as pre-movement testing and financial support for farmers on the contentious issues.

Tackle issues head on

ICMSA deputy president Lorcan McCabe said there are positive elements in the draft TB strategy, notably around improved communication at all levels from the Department, both internally and with stakeholders. He also welcomed the commitment to tackle all sources of infection, but cautioned that final judgment will depend on delivery.

McCabe said there are genuine concerns on the impact of these proposals at farm level. He said the ICMSA believed that a specific programme should be put in place in relation to the removal of inconclusive animals, stating that over any reasonable time it would more than repay any costs. “The plain fact is that in order to lower the TB incidence across the country, wildlife issues will have to be tackled ‘head-on’ with adequate resources allocated to deliver the results,” he said.

ICMSA president Pat McCormack said it needs to see a level of detail before it can sign up to the new strategy. “We need to see a tackling of wildlife, farmers can’t tackle it on their own. The vaccination of badgers needs to be rolled out nationwide.”

Enhanced support

Hugh Farrell of the ICSA said there needs to be enhanced support for herds that have had a long and difficult TB experience.

He said the ICSA would “not even entertain” the discussion around pre-movement testing, unless it was guaranteed that any such proposals were limited to very specific cases of herds that have had severe and recurring TB outbreaks.

In addition, ICSA would not engage unless the TB strategy was built on the principle that there would be full financial supports in place to ensure that no individual herd owner was carrying unfair cost.

It is critical that proposals to increase testing on herds that are deemed high risk will not see any additional financial cost levied on to farmers, according to the INHFA.

It also has concerns on the proposed strategy around inconclusive tests and its potential to increase costs on farmers.

“Another issue that must be considered relates to the availability of vets to carry out testing, especially in more remote areas. Where testing needs to be increased on a particular farm or in a wider area it is vital, especially where farmers want to sell stock, that these tests happen in a timely manner,” it said.