A dispute is ongoing between a Blonde d’Aquitaine breeder from Ballynahinch and DARD on the compensation valuations put on bovine TB reactors in his pedigree herd.

Following a disease outbreak, Sean Savage of Shanvalley Blondes has had 15 TB reactors in his herd. The first bull went down on 6 February after two bulls had been presented for testing. This positive skin test led to an initial stabilising herd test the following week in which nine animals went down, including six in-calf females.

“The DARD valuers that came out had little knowledge of pedigree Blonde cattle and valued the 10 animals in 15 or 20 minutes,” Sean’s brother Paul told the Irish Farmers Journal on their farm on Tuesday.

The values were significantly lower than the Savage brothers had expected and the compensation offer was subsequently declined by Sean meaning an independent valuer had to be appointed from an approved list.

Paul said that the new valuer worked as an auctioneer in England and had more experience of pedigree cattle. His valuations were still lower than they expected but Sean reluctantly accepted them.

However, DARD chose to decline the independent valuations meaning the case is going before an appeal hearing in June. The 10 reactors were removed from the farm on 16 February.

A second herd test took place on 30 March and a further five animals, including two in-calf females, went down. Paul said that the same DARD valuers came back and put values on his cattle, which were again lower than he expected.

Sean refused to sign the valuation meaning it was not accepted or declined. Paul said that the independent valuer from England also came back, but the brothers have not seen his valuation yet.

The five reactors from the second test are still on the farm. On enquiry, DARD said that it cannot comment on an individual TB breakdown case but pointed out that 99.87% of farmers accepted DARD’s valuations in 2015.

However, in a letter responding to SDLP MLA Sean Rogers, Minister for Agriculture Michelle O’Neill said that it was explained to Sean that failure to sign the valuation within three days could lead to the compulsory purchase of the animals, but serving of writs or PSNI intervention was not discussed.

The Savage brothers also maintain that the second herd test occurred before the required 60-day interval between two tests and, in effect, was illegal. However, Minister O’Neill points out in the letter than a 42-day interval from the initial stabilising test to the next herd test is DARD policy.

According to Paul, the stress surrounding the events has taken a toll on his brother’s health. “It is the valuations that are an insult after 22 years of breeding,” he said.