ICMSA urges farmers to remain vigilant over bluetongue dangers

ALL farmers have been urged by the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association to heed the advice of Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith regarding the importation of animals and the possible dangers of bluetongue.

Mr Smith recently urged cattle and sheep importers not to put their farms and the livestock industry at risk by importing cattle from bluetongue-affected areas.

ICMSA Beef and Cattle Committee chairman Kevin Connolly said there is a responsibility on all farmers not to put their herds, or the herds of other farmers and neighbours, in danger by importing animals that had been exposed to the bluetongue virus.

“Ireland is free of bluetongue and we must all do everything in our power to maintain that status.

“The implications for farmers and for the country of an outbreak would be very serious leading to herd and flock health problems, herd and flock restrictions and the curtailment of live exports.

“That would a disastrous situation for the sector and must be avoided at all costs,” he said.

Mr Connolly said while there was no legal impediment to such importations, ICMSA felt the risks greatly outweighed any benefits.

Accordingly, it was requesting farmers to desist completely from importing animals from areas that have had exposure to the bluetongue virus, he said.