More than 900 lambs per day, or between 7% and 9% of the kill, are being classified as Category C and ordered home or back to farm by the Department, according to analysts quoted by Mr. Dennehy. IFA's official says that this measure is imposing major unnecessary costs on farmers and furthermore it is not provided for under EU regulations and it damages the normal sale of sheep.
While up to 93% of sheep are categorized A and B and deemed suitable for slaughter, Sean Dennehy said it was never the intention under the Clean Sheep Policy that sheep would be sent home or that the Department would insist on full shearing of some sheep. He said this approach is way over the top and has to stop. In addition, he said both factories and farmers are reporting a complete lack of consistency on the policy between plants and vets.
“Nowhere in the policy is there reference to sending home consignments of lambs or using arbitrary figures of 10% Category C to refuse loads of lambs. In addition, it was never intended that farmers would have to fully shear some sheep.”
Sean Dennehy said there is rising frustration among sheep farmers at the way they are being treated under the Clean Sheep Policy, “Sheep farmers will do their best to have their animals as clean as possible but the Department and the factories have to be practical and take account of the difficult weather conditions.”
In the week ending February 10th, the Department sent home up to 3,600 lambs that were deemed as category C. Last week, the Department rejected another 3,500 lambs, ordering that they be sent back.
As reported by IFA
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