ICMSA call over brucellosis

BRUCELLOSIS must not be allowed to re-emerge in the national cattle herd, the ICMSA dairy committee chairman Dominic Cronin said yesterday.

He said excellent progress had been made in reducing the level of the disease and could effectively be eradicated within five years.

Mr Cronin said that with the ban on the trade of live cattle from Britain lifted, the importance of sourcing animals from reputable sources has never been more important. Cattle can now move north to south. It is also imperative that purchased cattle meet the relevant brucellosis and TB testing requirements.