January 4, 2010
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) said the proposed changes to the bovine TB eradication scheme could do more harm than good.
Malcolm Thompson, president of ICSA, said the changes proposed by the Irish Department of Agriculture could deal untold damage to suckler farmers countrywide.
According to Thompson, the ICSA has negotiated tirelessly over the years for concessions on TB eradication. Despite 50 years of testing, Ireland seems no closer to eradicate the disease. Hence, he called on farmers to examine what is being proposed and support the ICSA to overturn the proposal.
Separately, the association is calling on all farmers to continue withholding cattle for slaughter until a significant price rise has been secured.
Seán Scully, ICSA beef committee chairman, said farmers could no longer put up with the prices of 20 years ago and he urged all farmers not to co-operate with factories.
