Written answers

Tuesday, 19 June 2018

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Animal Diseases

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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432. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if botulism is a notifiable disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26182/18]

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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433. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action taken when an outbreak of botulism is detected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26183/18]

Photo of Timmy DooleyTimmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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434. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has the power to investigate the source of an outbreak of botulism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26184/18]

Photo of Michael CreedMichael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 to 434, inclusive, together.

Botulism in cattle is not a notifiable disease. However, from an industry perspective it is of benefit that suspect cases of botulism are reported to my Department in order that the incidence and extent of outbreaks may be monitored. DAFM veterinary laboratories are available to assist in diagnosis and to rule out other diseases which can present in a similar manner to botulism. Suspect cases may be reported by the herd owner's private veterinary practitioner to the Regional Veterinary Laboratory or the nearest Regional Veterinary Office (RVO).

Botulism outbreaks in cattle are most commonly, but not exclusively, associated with exposure to contaminated poultry litter – often coinciding with the recent spreading of poultry litter on land when the management of poultry litter is poor or deficient. Cattle grazing these contaminated pastures or coming into contact directly or indirectly with poultry litter are at risk of contracting the disease.

As part of controls on the poultry sector, my Department carries out certain inspections of poultry units to monitor compliance with the requirements of the Animal By-Products (ABP) Regulations as they relate to the proper disposal of dead poultry and the disposal of manure. Poultry producers are required to ensure that litter does not contain any residual poultry carcases. Transporters of poultry litter/manure are required to be registered as ABP transporters with the Department. Transporters must keep records, including the details of the place of origin of the material they are transporting and the place of destination.

My Department may also undertake follow-up investigations in situations where poultry litter is suspected of being the source of a botulism outbreak to ensure that adequate measures are being taken to prevent outbreaks - on the farm where the poultry litter is being spread, by the poultry litter haulier and on the poultry units that supplied the poultry litter.

The Department has drawn up Codes of Good Practice for poultry farmers, poultry litter hauliers and end-users of poultry litter, providing advice in relation to the management, transport and use of poultry litter in order to minimise the risks of contamination of pasture to cattle on the end user’s farm and neighbouring farms. These and other information in relation to botulism are available on the DAFM website at this link: www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/diseasecontrol/botulism/.

I would particularly encourage all farmers handling or spreading poultry litter to advise their neighbours of the fact so that they can move cattle that may be susceptible to fields that are not adjacent to the handling/spreading area.

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