The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA) has called on the Department of Agriculture to more proactively communicate with farmers and issue specific advice on how to protect their herds from bluetongue.

This comes in advance of the high vector period for bluetongue-carrying midges, expected from mid-April onwards.

Livestock committee chair Michael O’Connell has said that there’s been huge concern across the farming community and all kinds of speculation about the extent of our vulnerability since the outbreaks in Wexford.

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O'Connell acknowledged the Department's efforts in terms of the surveillance programme in place across the southeast as well as the trace testing. However, the scope of the communication with farmers needs to be expanded, he said.

The ICMSA has specifically called for the Department to communicate the possible effects that a bluetongue outbreak can have on a herd or flock - whether it be abortions in breeding stock, sudden drop in milk yield or lack of thrive.

“We understand that the vaccine is costing somewhere in the region of €3.50 to €4.50 per shot with two shots required for cows and a single shot required for sheep and - most importantly - the second shot for breeding bovines needs to be administered two to three weeks before the onset of the breeding season.

"Farmers should weigh-up the economics behind vaccination – particularly in the more vulnerable parts of the country, such as the southeast.

"Considering where the marketplaces are at present, failure to go back in calf or loss in milk production could result in serious economic loss on farms at a time when dairy incomes are already under the hammer," O'Connell said.

The ICMSA would encourage farmers with breeding stock to consult with their vet sooner rather than later regarding vaccination in advance of the breeding season.

Certification

O’Connell has also urged the Department to work swiftly and efficiently with its counterparts in Northern Ireland to sort out certification issues regarding the movement of cattle from south to north.

“Northern Ireland is one of our top five destinations for live exports in 2025 and in advance of the export season, we need progress here.

"It is also hugely important from a beef price point of view that Northern customers can purchase forward store cattle for finishing," he said.

This, O'Connell said, shouldn’t be causing a logistical certification issue as these cattle are mostly going into CFU herds and direct to slaughter thereafter.

"It must be noted that there will be a number of breeding bull sales coming up over the next few months and it is important that northern customers can avail of purchasing southern bulls”, concluded O’Connell.