Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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471. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cows and calves killed at a location (details supplied) during Storm Emma; the recommendations he will make in relation to such sites funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13895/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Teagasc are involved in 4 demonstration farms with industry partners to highlight best practice in livestock production in terms of animal breeding, grassland management, animal health and financial management. Teagasc provide strategic oversight in the form of business planning and technical support and also organise farm walks and visits etc. My Department does not directly aid the operation of these farms.

The Greenfield Dairy Farm project was set up in 2010 to demonstrate best practise in the design, construction and operation of sustainable grass based milk production systems to Irish dairy farmers. Glanbia, the Agricultural Trust and the farm owners, formed a limited company (Greenfield Dairy Partners Limited), which leased the farm from the owners for a 15-year period. Teagasc  are not involved in the day-to-day operations on the farm.

Like many other farms, Greenfield was impacted by the extreme weather associated with Storm Emma. Farm staff stayed on the farm for the entire duration of the storm to monitor the stock under the adverse conditions. Additional help was brought in to ensure that all animals were provided with adequate feed and water, which is the main animal welfare priority in such situations.

Out of a total of 370 cows, there were 290 cows on the farm during the storm. In preparation for the storm, approximately 80 in-calf cows and 30 calves were moved to a nearby farmyard which provided more sheltered accommodation. Unfortunately over the 24-hour period, five calves and two cows died due to the adverse effects of Storm Emma; an additional calf died in the following 24-hours.

Teagasc regrets the animal deaths that occurred, but faced with the large snowfall and drifting, are satisfied that everything that was humanly possible was done to alleviate the situation. Over the last 8 years, Greenfield has had a very good animal welfare record with cow and calf mortality, one of the key performance indicators that is recorded and reported weekly, significantly below national average rates.

While an event such as Storm Emma is unlikely to be repeated during the lifetime of this project, Teagasc in association with its stakeholders will carry out a thorough review of the event. This will include a review of the farm infrastructure and recommendations as to how such adverse events are prepared for and alleviated in the future. Teagasc will also prepare a specific set of guidelines to help farmers to cope with extreme adverse events such as occurred with Storm Emma and Storm Ophelia.