Knackeries halt fallen sheep and horse collections amid DAFM dispute
A dispute between knackeries and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) over the Fallen Animal Scheme has escalated as it enters a second week.
The Animal Collectors' Association (ACA) has confirmed that from this week knackeries will no longer collect fallen sheep and horses.
In addition, the association said that on-farm deaths of animals will also not be notified to the department by knackeries.
Since last Monday (October 19), fallen sheep collected by ACA-affiliated knackery operators are not being prepared and presented to DAFM vets for sampling for the disease, scrapie.
Knackeries
In a statement, the ACA said that it had submitted "a comprehensive, sustainable business case" to DAFM ahead of the Fallen Animal Scheme expiring on September 30.
"This proposal detailed mechanisms designed to establish a fair and workable scheme for operators, detailing options to limit increases in the rates charged to farmers.
"Instead of engaging constructively with these solutions, DAFM has repeated a historic pattern of waiting for schemes to fully expire, forcing knackery operators into an escalating reduction of vital services," the association said.
The ACA said it "remains fully committed to providing a vital environmental and biosecurity service to Irish agriculture".
"However, knackery operators cannot continue to absorb rising operational costs without a reasonable subvention framework.
"The ACA calls on DAFM to immediately return with a meaningful proposal that protects the infrastructure of the collection system without placing any additional burden on farmers," the statement added.
DAFM
In a statement, a spokesperson for the department told Agriland: "The Fallen Animal Scheme is an important element of Ireland’s livestock infrastructure, through which department funding provides support for farmer access to fallen animal collections and protects animal health."
"The department has been engaged in negotiations with the Animal Collectors Association in relation to the scheme for several months, with a view towards agreeing a new scheme which delivers support for farmers and value for taxpayers.
"The department is continuing to engage on this matter and remains open and available for constructive dialogue and negotiations," the spokesperson said.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association (ICMSA) has said that any solution to the current dispute between the knackeries and the department "better not involve higher charges on farmers".
Eamon Carroll, ICMSA deputy president, insisted that the solution to this dispute must come from within the department’s own funds.
