Any new rules governing the movement, sale and export of calves must be agreed by all stakeholders in the industry, leading mart managers have told the Irish Farmers Journal.
New weight and age restrictions on calf movements off their farm of birth are being considered by the Department of Agriculture, as part of a major overhaul of calf sale and transport regulations.
More stringent controls on the sale and export of young stock were also tabled by the Department during a recent meeting of the calf stakeholder forum.
Reacting to these developments, Bandon Mart manager Seán Dennehy said it was essential that industry stakeholders are consulted before any regulations on calf movements are introduced.
Best way forward
“All stakeholders need to sit down and figure out the best way forward,” Dennehy insisted.
The farm organisations, the marts, exporters and the Department all had to have an input into the drawing up of any new rules on calf movements," he said.
Dennehy maintained that these rules needed to preserve the home and export markets for calves.
“We have to have the domestic and export demand for calves and we need to protect both,” he said.
Supports
The Bandon Mart manager also called for improved supports to incentivise dairy-calf-to-beef production.
“The Dairy-Calf-To-Beef Scheme needs to be enhanced,” he said.
Michael Harty of Central Auctions agreed there was merit in seeking to increase the age limit for the sale of calves in marts.
He pointed out that farmers were already selling calves at older ages because of “buyer resistance” to purchasing young, light calves.
However, Harty did not agree with the introduction of minimum weight limits in the marts.
Minefield
“You would be getting into a minefield if you started weighing calves,” Harty argued.
“The [minimum] age limit will sort out enough of the difficulties anyway,” he maintained.
No firm proposals were tabled around age limits for calf movements, but a minimum of 21 days was discussed for moving calves off their farm of birth. Calves can’t currently be moved until they are at least 10 days old.
A minimum age of 28 days was suggested for exporting calves.
Among the other measures discussed were:
That marts set a minimum weight below which they will not accept calves for sale.That a minimum weight at which calves can be exported is set.That the use of Jersey genetics be curtailed or banned.Another meeting of the stakeholder group is scheduled to take place before Christmas to finalise the proposals.
Any new rules governing the movement, sale and export of calves must be agreed by all stakeholders in the industry, leading mart managers have told the Irish Farmers Journal.
New weight and age restrictions on calf movements off their farm of birth are being considered by the Department of Agriculture, as part of a major overhaul of calf sale and transport regulations.
More stringent controls on the sale and export of young stock were also tabled by the Department during a recent meeting of the calf stakeholder forum.
Reacting to these developments, Bandon Mart manager Seán Dennehy said it was essential that industry stakeholders are consulted before any regulations on calf movements are introduced.
Best way forward
“All stakeholders need to sit down and figure out the best way forward,” Dennehy insisted.
The farm organisations, the marts, exporters and the Department all had to have an input into the drawing up of any new rules on calf movements," he said.
Dennehy maintained that these rules needed to preserve the home and export markets for calves.
“We have to have the domestic and export demand for calves and we need to protect both,” he said.
Supports
The Bandon Mart manager also called for improved supports to incentivise dairy-calf-to-beef production.
“The Dairy-Calf-To-Beef Scheme needs to be enhanced,” he said.
Michael Harty of Central Auctions agreed there was merit in seeking to increase the age limit for the sale of calves in marts.
He pointed out that farmers were already selling calves at older ages because of “buyer resistance” to purchasing young, light calves.
However, Harty did not agree with the introduction of minimum weight limits in the marts.
Minefield
“You would be getting into a minefield if you started weighing calves,” Harty argued.
“The [minimum] age limit will sort out enough of the difficulties anyway,” he maintained.
No firm proposals were tabled around age limits for calf movements, but a minimum of 21 days was discussed for moving calves off their farm of birth. Calves can’t currently be moved until they are at least 10 days old.
A minimum age of 28 days was suggested for exporting calves.
Among the other measures discussed were:
That marts set a minimum weight below which they will not accept calves for sale.That a minimum weight at which calves can be exported is set.That the use of Jersey genetics be curtailed or banned.Another meeting of the stakeholder group is scheduled to take place before Christmas to finalise the proposals.
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