Call for funds to tackle unwanted horses problem

The country’s main farming organisation has called on the Government to provide financial assistance to horse owners to tackle the growing problem of unwanted horses.

The Irish Farmers’ Association said initiatives were necessary to address the issue as a growing number of people found they had horses they could not get slaughtered and which they could no longer afford to keep.

The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals claimed recently that just 8,000 horses have been slaughtered so far in 2013, compared to 24,000 animals last year.

Animal welfare and farming groups believe tighter regulations on slaughtering and public unease with the practice arising out of the horsemeat scandal at the start of the year have contributed to the growing number of surplus horses across the Republic.

IFA president John Bryan said he recognised that there was less demand for lower grade horses in recent years due to a number of factors, including the recession and the horsemeat scandal.

Because many of these animals cannot be placed into the food chain, Mr Bryan said there was a need to address the issue before it became a serious animal welfare problem.

“Many horses have no value and they’re being left to wander,” he acknowledged.

Mr Bryan said the IFA would welcome a scrappage scheme to support poor farmers who are struggling to meet the estimated €200 cost to dispose of such animals.

He claimed the IFA would support a derogation being sought by Belgium from EU regulations which would allow horses not registered within the first six months of birth to enter the food chain provided “they are subject to a level of testing to make 100% sure no medical products have been administered.”

The IFA also called on Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney to protect the existing funding allocation for his department in talks on the forthcoming budget.

Farmers have expressed concern that spending on farming supports has been cut disproportionately in recent years.

Mr Bryan claimed the amount spent on agriculture had fallen by 41.2% since the start of the recession compared to an overall reduction of 12.6% in general government spending over the same period.

According to the IFA, agriculture now accounts for just 2% of all government expenditure compared to 3% in 2008.

“The agriculture sector is one of the few areas maintaining employment and exports and we feel that has not been reflected in decisions made around the cabinet table,” said Mr Bryan.

“The farming community recognises that our public finances needed to be stabilised. However, the cuts on agriculture are clearly disproportionate and should be reversed.”

The IFA leader said an extra €100m available through the EU Rural Development Programme next year should be used by the Government to reverse recent cuts and target aid to vulnerable farmers.

Mr Bryan said the recent extended spell of good weather should help farmers to recover some income lost last year, especially in the dairy and beef sectors. However, he claimed tillage farmers were continuing to suffer due to falling grain prices.