Review of 30-month BSE test urged

IRISH Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president Malcolm Thompson has called on Agriculture Minister Mary Coughlan to review the 30-month BSE test.

“This test is both ridiculously expensive for farmers and disruptive for meat processors. It would seem to have little scientific justification at this stage,” he said.

Mr Thompson said since the elimination of meat and bone from cattle rations and the steady fall in BSE it would seem logical that the BSE test for younger cattle should now be totally eliminated or at least should only be applicable to cattle over three years old.