Funding cut is the “latest blow” to sheep farmers
14th October 2024
Proposals to withdraw Daera funding for Maedi Visna (MV) testing has prompted concern among sheep farmers in Northern Ireland.
Plans to remove funding for MV testing in Northern Ireland could undo farmers’ hard work in achieving MV-free status – and result in increased costs.
This is the warning from the National Sheep Association and Ulster Farmers Union, who met more than 100 sheep farmers last week to discuss concerns.
Daera is set to withdraw funding for MV testing and is asking the industry to implement a farmer-funded scheme.
Farmers facing additional costs
NSA Northern Ireland chair, Alaistair Armstrong, said sheep farmers feel they have been forgotten about by Daera, and the proposals are the “latest blow they are having to deal with”.
“With the way things stand currently, they are still set to lose 17% of the Basic Payment Scheme and there is no more funding for the sheep scab scheme.
“All of which are placing the industry in jeopardy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Edward Adamson, a former development officer for NSA NI, added:
“Farmers are anxious if control measures are removed, it would undo their hard work in ensuring Northern Ireland’s current MV free status.
“The sheep industry wants to maintain the status quo for MV currently and cannot ‘allow the MV floodgates to open’.”
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Concern over borders
MV infection rates are continuing to rise in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Armstrong said the loss of MV control measures at borders is a major concern.
Should MV be transmitted into NI flocks, they would become less efficient, profitable and sustainable – with a knock-on effect on the sector.
Mr Adamson warned that if Northern Ireland stops restrictions on the health status of imports, MV could become widespread.
“Sheep farmers are willing to act responsibly with biosecurity, quarantine and purchasing from high health flocks, however, all this is useless if Daera remove controls,” he continued.
The main clinical signs of MV are progressive paralysis, wasting, arthritis and chronic mastitis.
It’s detected in older animals as symptoms lie dormant for several years.
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