IFA Meet Department Officials on Welfare & Traceability Protocols

A delegation led by IFA Animal Health Chair David Hall met with senior Department of Agriculture officials with responsibility for Animal Welfare and Investigations about DAFM protocols to deal with alleged welfare and animal traceability breaches on farms.

The meeting came as a result of a request from IFA following the appearance last week of a number of videos, showing the euthanising of animals on farms which the IFA Animal Health Chair said was unacceptable.

David Hall said it was very apparent from this meeting that the Department of Agriculture does not have any clear guidance for their officials on the ground. It is also of concern that they do not appear to be provided with the equipment and resources needed to carry out these functions in a professional and competent manner.

“The Department officials listened to the points we raised and we expect them to revert with a formal response this week,” he said.

IFA has also written to the Chair of the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council looking for an urgent meeting to be convened to address the issues. The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council has responsibility to advise the Department of Agriculture and the Minister.

David Hall said we did not discuss the details of any individual case in this meeting. The issue is about the protocols the DAFM have in place to deal with cases where animals have to be removed from farms.

“We all understand there may be times when animals have to be euthanised by the State, but there must be strict protocols around this, and these must be developed as a matter of urgency.”

“We can never have a repeat of what we have seen circulating last week,” he said.