Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action her Department has taken in relation to a reported outbreak of botulism in cattle (details supplied); the tests which have been carried out on her behalf to confirm if the animals died from botulism; the number of animals which were reported to have died from suspected animal botulism; the results which are available; if tests were carried out; the other investigations which have been carried out to establish the origins of the reported outbreak; her views in relation to the disposal of chicken litter as a fertiliser in the area; the tests which have been carried out on the chicken litter in an effort to establish if it is contaminated with the suspect organism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27531/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Botulism is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Acts. However, samples from animals may be submitted for testing to my Department's Central Veterinary Laboratory or Regional Veterinary Laboratories at the discretion of a Private Veterinary Practitioner or on request by a herd owner through a Private Veterinary Practitioner.

Bovine Botulism can be contracted through contact with contaminated decomposing organic material such as poultry litter which contains poultry carcass material when spread on land grazed by cattle. In relation to the case referred to by the Deputy, the position is that my Department received reports in early May 2006 of a suspected botulism outbreak involving animals on two farms. Investigations carried out to date by my Department into the spreading of litter in the area have not established a definitive origin for the litter. Laboratory records show that two animals were submitted for postmortem from one of the herds concerned in the context of botulism. Post mortem examinations on these animals revealed no significant findings. Samples of feed and drinking water submitted by the owner as well as abomasal and ruminal contents collected at post mortem examination were frozen and retained in the Regional Veterinary Research Laboratory for further testing for botulinum toxin at the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory.

In addition, a blood sample was submitted from the same herd, to rule out certain other conditions which could be linked to the clinical signs presented. Test results did not show any evidence of such conditions. The Animal By-Products Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002) allows poultry litter to be applied to land under certain conditions. Under this Regulation, the manager of a poultry unit is obliged to remove any carcasses from poultry litter and to send these to an approved plant for rendering.

In May 2006, and in previous years, my Department wrote to dairy processors advising them about this issue and asked them to distribute to their producers an information/advisory note entitled "Good Farming Practice with regard to Spreading Poultry Litter on Land". Poultry processors were also circulated with a similar information/advisory note. An "Information Note on Botulism for Veterinary Practitioners" and "Instructions for Practitioners when dealing with Suspected cases of Botulism on Farm" were also circulated to Private Veterinary Practitioners. Copies of an information/advisory note entitled "Good Farming Practice with regard to Spreading Poultry Litter on Land" are available to farmers from District Veterinary Offices. My Department also published, in the farming press, a notice to farmers on the spreading of poultry litter on land and the precautions which should be taken.

In addition to the above, my Department's veterinary staff has held meetings with the industry to raise awareness on the issue. I believe that the poultry industry is well aware of the issues with regard to their obligations on the safe disposal of litter and carcass material in accordance with EU Regulation 1774/2002. Indeed, sections of the industry have been very proactive in dealing with this issue and have adopted good practice procedures.

My Department will be undertaking random inspections on poultry producers' premises to ensure that the necessary procedures are being followed. Where there is evidence that this is not the case, the Department can require that all poultry litter from those premises be sent for rendering.