Farm animal deaths could have been prevented, conference told

MANY of the 243,500 animal deaths on farms last year could have been prevented, the Animal and Plant Health Association annual conference was told in Portlaoise yesterday.

Frank O’Sullivan, a vet in Trim, Co Meath, and the Animal Health Committee chairman with Veterinary Ireland, said much of the poor performance owing to animal sickness could have been avoided through strategic herd health management.

He said strategic herd health management was a crucial component of profitable farming as well as ensuring the production of safe and quality raw materials for the food industry.