After requests from IFA, IFA Animal Health Project Team Chairman John Waters has welcomed the decision by the Department of Agriculture to provide TB restricted farmers with the option of having the cards for pre-identified slaughter animals stamped.

According to Mr Waters, this facility removes the unnecessary cost and inconvenience for farmers in acquiring permits for individual consignments of cattle immediately prior to slaughter while their herd is restricted and allows farmers sell their animals in a normal manner. He advised all restricted farmers with animals due to be slaughtered prior to de-restriction to avail of this facility by identifying the
relevant animals in advance and requesting the cards for these animals to be stamped slaughter only by their local DVO.

However, the IFA Chairman said the issue where farmers need to move animals
at short notice or where permission to purchase animals in is required must
be addressed immediately. Mr Waters called on the Department of Agriculture to facilitate fax or emailing of permits immediately in order to remove the cost and
inconvenience being experienced by farmers in having to travel long distances to acquire permits for their animals.