Beef farmers must be aware of disease risks of imported cattle

BEEF farmers buying imported EU stock should be aware of heightened risk of disease and the greater challenge in selling these animals to Irish factories, warns the ICMSA.

Chairman of the ICMSA’s beef and cattle committee, Kevin Connolly, said Irish factories are still slow to buy non-Irish stock, mindful of Johnes disease and other ailments brought into Ireland with imports 10 years ago.

“When Irish dairy farmers brought in Friesian stock 10 years ago, the maiden heifers brought in a lot of diseases we didn’t have here,” said Mr Connolly.