IFA livestock committee plan to scrap herd register
Addressing Limerick IFA, the Co Wexford suckler farmer — who has succeeded John Bryan as head of one of the IFA’s key commodity committees — said the register should be withdrawn from use immediately, because it is no longer necessary.
“With the cattle monitoring and movement system running, we should have no further use for the herd register, and livestock farmers should be relieved of the necessity to maintain the register immediately,” said Mr Doran.
He said that upkeep of the register had created many problems for farmers, but with the CMMS now linked to the annual herd test, and the European Commission seeking to eliminate duplication, the register must go.
“If there is a discrepancy between the herd test and the CMMS, the Department will notify the farmer within a fortnight of the herd test for clarification.
He said, “Farmers in REPS have to keep a regular monitor on stocking and this means going through the register every month for the ages of all animals in the herd. There should be no necessity for this when we have the CMMS up to date.”
