This article is from page 17 of the 2012-01-24 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
AN ON-FARM slaughter scheme, which is available in major beef-producing counties such as Meath and Kildare, would save Clare farmers thousands of euro and stop viable beef going straight to the knackers yard.
According to Clare County Councillor Paul Murphy (FG), Clare farmers with injured animals are being penalised on the double, as on-farm slaughtering is not available to farmers with cattle with minor injuries.
The Clarecastle councillor said that animals with a broken bone, who have not “fallen”, are being refused by abattoirs when taken there by the farmer for slaughter.
“These mildly hurt animals are being turned away from the abattoir and the animals have to be put down and the meat disposed of,” he told members at the January adjourned meeting of the council.
The farmer is then at a financial loss on the double, he explained. Firstly, he has the loss of the value of the animal, and then has to pay a hefty sum to have its remains disposed of.
He called on the agriculture minister to review the efficiency of the onfarm slaughtering services scheme, particularly where an animal with a broken limb, but who is otherwise healthy, can still be transported humanely to the abattoir rather than that animal be classified as a fallen animal.
Cllr Pat Burke (FG) told the members that there is a farm slaughter scheme in place, where the animal is shot and bled out on the farm.
He raised concerns that the meat can be damaged when dragged into the trailer during such a process, however, and suggested that the ideal scenario would be to see these animals slaughtered in an abattoir.
The farm slaughter scheme does not seem to be available in Clare.
Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) said, “During a recession, it is unfortunate that the farmer is left with a loss of up to € 1,000 to € 1, 500.
“Bringing the animal to the factory would be less destructive for everyone,” he said.
Ennis councillor Tommy Brennan (Ind) raised concerns about the safety of meat from an animal with a minor injury, which was slaughtered on a farm.
“Would this go in for public con- sumption and who would decide if it is safe for human consumption?” he asked.
“I think where possible it would be safer to transport the animal to the abattoir.
“For the on-site process, there would be a vet to say if it was safe for animal consumption,” answered Cllr Joe Arkins (FG).
Supporting the motion, the mayor, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), said that the council was asking for a change in policy to allow animals with minor injuries to be brought to the abattoir as soon as possible rather than to the knackers yard.