There are a number of changes to animal movement regulations that come into play from Monday 4 February. Every farmer with bovines has received notification of these changes and it is important that they are taken heed of and letters are not just left aside.

The first area experiencing significant change is the certificate of compliance governing farm-to-farm movements.

Previously, farmers had a period of up to 30 days from the date of approval to move animals.

This will be reduced from 4 February to a maximum of 10 days from the date of approval.

Where a certificate of compliance has been issued for a number of animals, then the date of movement must be clearly recorded for each animal

It is also optional to enter details on the destination of animals meaning open-ended certificates could be secured with the destination provided when the movement is recorded.

This is no longer permissible from 4 February and both online and hardcopy applications must specify a destination herd number.

The current NBAS 31A form is being revised to reflect this and this form must also be used where farmers wish to apply for a certificate of compliance at time of registration of the animal.

Calves must be a minimum of 10 days of age on leaving the holding apart from exceptional cases where animal welfare is concerned.

This means that the National Bovine Birth Registration Service will no longer approve a certificate of compliance on foot of a request written on a birth registration white card application form.

The Department notification stresses that if changes are made after a certificate of compliance has been generated then a new application with the new herd number must be made – it is not allowable to manually change the destination.

Where a certificate of compliance has been issued for a number of animals, then the date of movement must be clearly recorded for each animal.

Ten-day age limit to move calves

The movement of calves less than 10 days of age will also be prohibited from 4 February 2019. There is an exception to this rule based on animal welfare concerns for farm-to-farm movements. The Department states that where an application is being sought to move calves less than 10 days of age then an applicant must sign a declaration concerning the health of calves.

This declaration will be part of the revised NBAS 31A form and includes confirming that the calf’s navel is healed which is also currently a legal requirement for calf movements, that the journey is less than 100km and that the movement is necessary and in the best welfare interest of calves.

ICOS has always and will continue to support changes which reinforce Ireland’s strong animal welfare credentials

Exceptional movements of young calves in other circumstances such as the death of a dam on a beef farm, for example, should be notified by contacting your regional veterinary office.

On the minimum 10-day movement restrictions, Ray Doyle, ICOS livestock services executive, said: “ICOS has always and will continue to support changes which reinforce Ireland’s strong animal welfare credentials. We acknowledge there will be cases where calves have to move for welfare reasons at less than 10 days of age and marts are satisfied that this will not interfere with normal trading.

“The Department has confirmed to us that there were fewer than 16,000 calves less than 10 days of age moved from farm to farm in 2017.

"This figure is likely to fall under the new regulations as the Department has also confirmed to ICOS that there will be strict conditions imposed, including any farmer wishing to use welfare regulations to move calves less than 10 days of age receiving a follow-up welfare inspection if the facility is used twice.”