Serious postal delays in the delivery of tissue tag samples is impacting the operation of both the National Genotyping Programme (NGP) and the National BVD Eradication Programme.

Farmers claimed samples that were sent for the NGP and the BVD programme have still not arrived at labs for processing up to three weeks after being posted.

Connemara farmer Noel Joyce is among those impacted by the delays. The Sraith Salach farmer posted both NGP and BVD samples for four calves over three weeks ago but the labs have not received them.

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While Joyce has the calves registered online, he said it was very frustrating that the tissue samples appear to have disappeared in the post.

“I could get replacement tissue tags, but what good is that if the replacements face the same delays,” he said.

Both Animal Health Ireland (AHI) and the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) have engaged with An Post in relation to the delays.

Operation

“While the operation of the postal system is outside the control of AHI, we have met with An Post, requesting that BVD samples moving from farms to laboratories be treated as a key priority during the spring period,” an AHI spokesperson said.

“We strongly encourage An Post to continue to do everything within its capacity to facilitate the safe and rapid processing of BVD samples through the postal service and onwards to the laboratory network.”

ICBF confirmed this week that the average time from birth to the NGP sample being received in the lab was 7.3 days. However, a spokesperson for ICBF confirmed that the organisation is receiving calls from farmers who are experiencing delays with An Post.

“We have been in touch with An Post about the delays, as have many other organisations,” the spokesperson said.

“ICBF advises herds to continue to tag calves as early as possible and post regularly to minimise any negative impact should they be affected by a postal delay,” the spokesperson added.

An Post said it was aware of complaints from a small number of some customers of delays in the processing of tissue samples.

It said it has reviewed the handling of this mail, and has “re-enforced the need for speedy processing of samples and associated documentation”. It also apologised for any delays.