The position in regard to the Department's schemes was that during 2001 and up to 1 April 2002, compensation for reactor animals comprised the salvage value of the animal, which was paid by the factory directly to the farmer, and a reactor grant or live valuation, less the salvage value, paid to the individual farmer by the Department. From 2 April 2002, the reactor grant regime was discontinued, when the valuation system was extended to all breakdown cases. It is important to note that, at all times, the ownership of the reactor animal continues to reside with the farmer and, therefore, the contract for the salvage value is a matter for the farmer and the meat factory involved. The Department's responsibility is solely to ensure the secure removal of the animal to slaughter and pay the appropriate reactor compensation thereafter.