Cost of BSE tests questioned
Currently, farmers pay up to €19.20 per head for testing, which is compulsory for all cattle being slaughtered at more than 30 months of age.
“Charges are varying across the different factories. There needs to be a complete revision of the scheme”, said Noel Woulfe, a member of the IFA National Livestock Committee, during a Limerick IFA meeting.
Up to last weekend the number of BSE cases in Ireland this year was 31, compared with 48 cases for the equivalent period in 2005.
There were 69 cases in 2005, 126 in 2004, 186 in 2003, and 333 in 2002.
Since January 2001, all cattle over 30 months destined for human consumption, and all casualty animals, have been tested.
Since July 2001 all fallen cattle are also tested. Over 488,000 tests have been carried out in 2006, up to the end of August.
