IFA Seek Meeting with Dept on Welfare & Traceability Protocols

IFA Animal Health Chair David Hall said IFA is seeking an urgent meeting with the Department of Agriculture Chief Veterinary Officer about DAFM protocols to deal with alleged welfare and animal traceability breaches on farms.

“The videos we have seen online apparently showing how animals were euthanised on two farms last Friday, under Department of Agriculture supervision, are unacceptable and shocking,” he said.

“Whatever about the rights and wrongs of the particular case against the herd owner, which is a matter for the courts, there must be a better way of dealing with issues than we saw last Friday,” he said.

“There may be times where animals have to be euthanised, but there must be strict protocols around this,” he said.