Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of fallen animals recorded each month this year compared to the same month last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29346/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The number of fallen bovine animals for the period requested is as follows

Note: Information on deaths of other species is not recorded.

As will be seen from the data provided, mortality figures are generally higher this year than in the same period last year. This can be explained by disease challenges, environmental factors together with the recent fodder crisis, as well as an increase in the bovine population. Another factor is the national compulsory BVD eradication programme which recommends that persistently infected (PI) calves are culled as soon as possible after being identified. The Deputy will be aware too of the efforts that my Department and other stakeholders have made to deal with the fodder crisis that faced many farmers earlier in the year.