The Department has announced a relaxation of some rules around the movement of animals where the welfare or lives of animals are threatened.
The severe weather of recent days has caused serious flooding in many areas of the country but particularly in Connaught, Munster and the midlands where some farmland has been seriously affected by the exceptionally high level of rainfall.
The Department of Agriculture has this week issued guidelines for farmers who’s holdings have suffered serious flooding in the past week.
Key details on animal movements
- In general, there is no restriction on the movement of cattle within the same holding, including onto parcels within the same holding.
- The movement of animals that are ‘in test’ from herds which are not restricted due to TB can be effected relatively easily on the basis of a Compliance Certificate which can obtained from the DVO, the local mart, the herd PVP (if registered to do so) or printed out by the herdowner himself.
- In the case of ’out of test’ animals or herds which are restricted due to TB, the movement of such animals or cattle out of these herds is prohibited except where they are going direct to slaughter.
- Exceptions to the above rules can be made where the welfare or lives of animals is threatened. Every effort must be made to prevent, if possible, and if not to limit the exposure of such animals to other TB susceptible animals.
- In the case of non-restricted herds, where the animals are at risk, the herdowner should move the animals to higher ground on his/her own farm if this is possible. If this is not possible and the herdowner is unable to get a compliance cert from the DVO or print one out himself/herself, the animals may be moved out of the holding.
- In the case of TB restricted herds, where the animals are at risk, the herdowner should move the animals to higher ground on his/her own farm if this is possible. If this is not possible and the herdowner is unable to get a movement permit from the DVO the animals may be moved out of the holding. In these circumstances, the herdowner should notify the DVO as soon as possible after movement.
Farm Inspections
In addition to the above flexibilities to address any issues concerning animal welfare the Minister said that in line with previous severe weather incidents and insofar as farm inspections are concerned, the Department will take account of the damage caused by flooding and deal sensitively with such inspection cases.
Matters relating to damage to property (such as fences) or the adverse condition of land due to severe flooding or storm damage will be dealt with using force majeure provisions, he said.