Despite improvements, communications on the new bovine tuberculosis (bTB) rules are still not where they should be, according to the Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA).

The group said that communications must be improved, or avoidable confusion will surround the Autumn buying and selling cattle.

The comments were made by ICMSA at a meeting with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Heydon.

They come against a decline in herd incidence with over 1,000 fewer herds restricted compared to last year – with some areas seeing a reduction of over 20%.

The deputy president of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, said that now is the time to ‘double-down’ on these initial improvements and push through to a substantial reduction result.

He said: “We do acknowledge the introduction of the special hotline – which had been committed to originally at our request and then promptly forgotten about by all except ourselves – and we are happy to acknowledge that communication has been improved.

“But it is still not where it should be, and we predict another massive bout of confusion around the traditional Autumn buying and selling of cattle as farmers try and work out what is within and without the new rules.  

Carroll cited the 'hotline' as a perfect example of timely and efficient communication.

He said that farmers who suffer a breakdown can ring up and get their official status and what to expect, and that’s a “great example of what’s required”.

The ICMSA deputy president added: “That needs to be expanded and resourced and become a ‘one stop shop’ for farmers for farmers wishing to discuss any aspects of TB (tuberculosis) issues.”

Clarifications

According to the ICMSA, the critical requirement is being able to establish the bTB status of any one individual animal being considered for the mart, and the clarifications must be available well in advance.

Carroll said:  “We also told the minister and his officials that it would be incredibly useful for the department to show at what stage of the (bTB) Action Plan they think they are at - and how they think the introduction is going so far. For instance, do they have any collated farmer reaction yet?

“We wouldn’t be fully satisfied, for instance, that all contract rearers are fully aware of the new rules that apply to them and their testing requirements before animals are contracted out or returned to their original herds.”

He added that the “whole point” is to “normalise” the new rules as soon and as smoothly as possible.

“We know that the rate of infection appears to be falling, now is the time to ‘double-down’ on work and effort and attack this scourge of the farmers for good,” he said.