Ireland has fewer on-farm cattle deaths

Ireland: This country has fewer on-farm cattle deaths than other leading livestock-producing countries, according to research carried out by Agri Aware.

It revealed yesterday that the 2.7% cattle mortality rate on Irish farms is lower than Britain (2.94%), United States (4.24%), Canada (4.69%) and France (5.21%).

Agri Aware incoming chairman TJ Maher said the health and welfare of livestock is of the utmost importance to Irish farmers.

The figures dispel any recent public concerns expressed on this issue and prove that farmers and vets do everything possible to maximise animal welfare on Irish farms. Mr Maher warned, however, that constant pressures on farming to increase scale to maintain an acceptable income and downward price pressure from retailers will impact negatively on the capacity of Irish farmers to maintain this excellent standard of animal welfare “Retailers must give Irish farmers a fair price for produce to reward the excellent animal welfare standards that have always pertained in Ireland,” he said.

Dr Pat Bogue, UCD, who reviewed the data, said the figures confirm the high standards of livestock production and animal welfare on Irish farms.

Meanwhile, over two million calves will be born on farms in Ireland in 2004, over 60% of them in February, March and April.