|
|
 |
You are > Home > Fury over ban on burial of dead animals on family farms
|
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
Fury over ban on burial of dead animals on family farms
By: Michael Commins
NEW regulations prohibiting the burial of animals on the family farm have farmers up in arms. The Animal Collection Service is now charging up to 55 euro to collect one dead sheep from a farm. Farmers claim the new regulations fly in the face of a centuries old tradition and amounts to further bureaucracy and interference in their affairs.
The I.F.A. Regional Officer, Roy O’Brien, says the regulations are a source of major aggravation for farmers, especially in Mayo and Galway which are the two counties most effected by the changes.
The offal has now to be rendered and sent to Germany or Austria for incineration. Over the years the offal went to meat and bonemeal places and was later fed to animals. But since scientists claimed their was a link between feeding this to animals and the CJD disease, that industry fell by the way.
Says Roy O’Brien: “Any animal put down or that dies cannot be buried on the farm anymore.
That’s what these regulations amount too. They are costing farmers a fortune as there can be huge costs involved. It is creating awful hassle in farming circles.
“In the case of cattle, the state subsidises the costs but there is no subsidy in relation to sheep. It now costs 55 euro to have a dead sheep picked up by the Animal Collection Service.
“Farmers are furious over these regulations. Down through the years people have buried animals on their lands. They can’t understand this latest imposition on their way of life. It is a very serious problem and one that won’t go away.”
The new regulations are due to come into force in the North of Ireland on the Ist May. There, the charges will be £20 to render a sheep and £80 to render cattle. Farmers are calling for full subsidization in the North. Ulster farmers claim they are already on their knees.
Main News Page |
Previous Page
|
|
|
|
Facebook
