BSE Controls Relaxed
IRELAND - The Ulster Farmers’ Union has welcomed the Agriculture Ministers announcement that the BSE testing age will increase to 48 months for all bovines from 1 January 2009.
22 December 2008
1 minute read
UFU President Graham Furey said; “The industry will welcome news that BSE controls are to be further relaxed. It is a vote of confidence in our product and it paves the way for costs imposed on many farmers to be reduced. Farmers will not be charged the testing fee for cattle under 48 months and this should mean a saving per animal on kill charges”.
Graham Furey added; “Moving the testing age for food chain cattle from 24 to 48 months should result in approximately 40,000 less cattle being tested on an annual basis in Northern Ireland, reducing the cost to farmers by £400,000”.
The UFU says the decision will unfortunately result in farmers now bearing the cost of disposing of fallen animals from 24 – 48 months which die on farm. These animals will have to be disposed of through the fallen stock disposal arrangements. The UFU says it will be working to minimise the cost to farmers.
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