The president of the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers’ Association (ICMSA) has called on everyone involved in the cattle trade to “try harder” to restrict the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB).
Denis Drennan said he has not “singled out marts or implied a lack of effort on their part” but has warned that “everyone is going to have to look at this unacceptable surge in TB and look to their own practices and patch”.
He said this also includes scientists and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Drennan said: “In the face of a surge like the one we are experiencing, I’m not sure that anyone or entity can afford to be too sensitive and I know that ICMSA is at the stage where we can’t stay operating a policy and procedure that is demonstrably not working.
“I stand foursquare behind my conviction that everyone – everyone – is going to have to up their game and I do include the marts in that observation.”
Earlier this week in his inaugural address as president at the ICMSA Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Monday (December 2) Drennan highlighted that increasing levels of TB across the country is “a massive concern” for farmers.
“We can’t keep doing what we are doing and expect a different result. What we are doing just isn’t working and we cannot stay at this.
“A structured deer cull needs to commence early in 2025 and new strategy for managing badger setts,” he added.
TB
According to the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) marts “remain committed to their role in TB control and stand ready to work alongside the ICMSA and all other stakeholders to implement evidence-based solutions for the benefit of Ireland’s farming community”.
Seán Brosnan, chair of the ICOS marts committee, acknowledged that “the rise in herd TB incidence is indeed a serious issue, but progress will come through collaboration”.
“TB control is a shared responsibility that requires the alignment of farmers, marts, wildlife managers and policymakers, and the marts will continue to play an important and influential role in this regard,” he added.
DAFM
Separately the general secretary at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), has also warned that the policy around bovine tuberculosis (TB) needs to be “reset”.
Brendan Gleeson made the comments at the ICMSA AGM where he also said that he shares the concern of farmers across the country when it comes to bovine TB.
As of October 27, 5,906 herds have suffered a TB breakdown in the last twelve months in comparison to 4,914 in the same period last year.
The overall cost to the exchequer of the National TB Eradication Programme, excluding staff costs, has increased from €57 million in 2023 to €74 million as of the end of October and is on track to increase further in 2025.