Herds that are restricted due to the detection of TB will be able to avail of online-only on-farm livestock auctions under new guidelines developed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).
The department has developed these new guidelines for the sale of animals from TB-restricted herds in the Republic of Ireland.
The existing guidelines currently permit the direct sale of cattle from restricted herds to controlled finishing units (CFUs).
However, this often takes the form of a private sale, which, according to livestock sale live-streaming service MartEye, can leave farmers feeling that their cattle are undervalued compared to the prices achievable at their local marts.
MartEye said that the provision of auction facilities for weanlings and store cattle in these herds builds on the success of recent years’ online-only on-farm auctions by selected marts.
The enhanced guidelines will now extend permission for livestock marts to conduct online-only on-farm auctions for TB-negative animals, in which several CFUs can bid.
It is understood that all online mart service providers will be able to offer the new service.
According to MartEye, this development is expected to lead to improved prices for farmers with restricted herds and, consequently, alleviate the stress experienced by farmers who are unable to sell their livestock at their fair market price.
The terms and conditions of these auctions are as follows:
- The auction must be online only and take place on the restricted herd’s holding;
- Purchasers must have the required permit from the department to handle TB-restricted cattle;
- Restricted herds must have had a test within the previous 30 days prior to the movement, and reactors removed from the herd prior to sale;
- Only the sale of weanlings and store cattle is allowed;
- After the sale, a farmer must be provided a permit by a regional veterinary office (RVO) to allow for the movement of cattle to a controlled finishing unit.
Commenting on the new guidelines for these sales, Jamie Nolan of MartEye said: “This represents a significant victory for everyday farmers. Increased competition should instill confidence in farmers that they are getting a fair price.
“I’ve heard numerous accounts of farmers grappling with fodder shortages, housing issues, and financial challenges due to their inability to sell animals from their TB-restricted herds,” Nolan added.
“This development, in collaboration with the department and ICOS, has allowed us to improve the existing guidelines, which we hope will alleviate stress and provide valuable benefits to farmers with TB-restricted herds.”
TB
Previously TB restricted herds could only sell test negative animals directly to slaughter or in a small number of cases to an individual TB restricted CFU for onward movement to slaughter.
This new facility will allow several CFUs to bid online for the animals concerned. Only weanlings, i.e., calves greater than 12 weeks-of-age, and store cattle will be permitted to be sold at such auctions, according to DAFM.
It is expected that this facility will be available from the end of this month. The sale of cows will not be facilitated.
Restricted herds and CFUs interested in participating should contact their local mart and RVO.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue stated: “I am acutely aware of the burden a TB restriction places on farm families and I am hopeful that this new arrangement will help to alleviate some of the burden associated with having to keep more stock than required on a TB restricted holding.
“It may also help introduce an element of competition in the market for these animals,” he added.
Welcoming the initiative, Ray Doyle, the livestock and environmental policy director of ICOS, said: “Farmers who are locked up with TB already have serious stress associated with having an outbreak and this facility will enable the sale of animals to the restricted feedlots rather than having to hold animals with the associated potential of animal welfare issues.
“Farmers selling animals though the mart system can be assured of the security of their funds.
“Every initiative must be undertaken to support farmers in the currently difficult economic climate and most particularly those who experience a TB crisis,” Doyle added.