Dept Inaction Cause of Collector and Renderer Dispute

IFA Animal Health Chairman TJ Maher said the inaction of the Department of Agriculture in providing an efficient competitive Fallen Animal Collection system has finally come to a head in the dispute between knackeries and renderers.

TJ Maher said it is unacceptable that farmers are being held to ransom by knackeries in their dispute with renderers.

“Farmers have been caught up in this as a direct result of the Department of Agriculture failure to address the glaring shortcomings of the system they have presided over for the last number of years,” he said.

IFA met with senior DAFM officials during the year, highlighted the problems with the system and called for a complete review of the structures in place.  DAFM failed to take any action and have directly contributed to this issue now on farms where farmers are unable to have fallen animals collected.

TJ Maher said this is causing huge problems and jeopardising the health of the remaining animals.

He said the only legal means of disposal of fallen animals for farmers is through a knackery service which the Department of Agriculture have failed to maintain.

IFA has called for a complete review of the systems in order to ensure all farmers have a guaranteed disposal system for their fallen animals at competitive prices. Clearly the current system has failed to provide this.

“The Department of Agriculture has to find a resolution to the current problems immediately and provide farmers with a collection service.”

“Farmers with fallen animals to be collected should contact their local Department office and seek direction from them on how they can have the animal removed from their farm,” he concluded.