Written answers

Wednesday, 4 May 2005

Department of Agriculture and Food

Bovine Disease Controls

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 347: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason her Department is ceasing or suspending the herd number of temporarily out of stock livestock owners; if the action is improper, and possibly illegal interference in the herd ownership rights of the farming community; the EU and Irish regulations which empower her Department to suspend a herd number in cases in which a farm is only temporarily cleared of stock; the number of farmers, by region and year, from whom in such circumstances herd numbers have been withdrawn; the reason the herd number of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo was deactivated without prior notice or consultation; if it will be restored; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14218/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A herd number is an administrative device used by my Department to identify and register owners or keepers of animals, particularly for the purposes of disease control and the implementation of the annual TB and brucellosis round tests. It has been the practice of my Department for some time when there are no bovine animals held under the herd number for a period to suspend the herd number so that testing under the bovine disease eradication programmes is not scheduled for such no-stock herds. Where a farmer who has maintained the eligibility conditions for a herd number wishes to restock the same holding with cattle within a short time, the herd number is re-activated on receipt of notification to the DVO by the farmer concerned.

The suspension of the herd number from a bovine disease eradication perspective does not preclude the farmer from applying for other schemes if eligible for such and has no implications for ownership rights.

The situation regarding the person indicated is that, in the course of checks on all untested herds due for test, the district veterinary office in Sligo received confirmation from the nominated private veterinary practitioner of the herd owner in question that he had no stock on his farm at the time. Accordingly, his herd number was suspended. A letter was sent to the herd owner on 4 March 2005 explaining that his herd number was being suspended as he had no cattle on his holding at present. He was advised that whenever he should decide to restock, he should make contact with the district veterinary office and his old herd number would be re-activated. He was further advised to contact any of the veterinary officials in the DVO should he require any clarification in relation to this matter. Data relating to the number of farmers, by region and year, from whom in such circumstances herd numbers have been withdrawn are not readily available.

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