April 20, 2021 3:12 pm
Calls have been made for the current TB testing exemption for calves up to 120 days-old to be made permanent post-Covid.
The calls were made by the Irish Cooperative Organisation Society earlier this week.
At yesterday’s (Monday, April 19) meeting of the calf welfare group, ICOS requested a permanent change by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to allow calves up to 120 days-old to be freely traded without the necessity for TB testing.
Commenting on the matter, Ray Doyle, livestock and environmental services executive for ICOS, said:
“We have seen great improvements in calf welfare and quality of calves presented for sale at marts since the change in the TB testing regime, due to Covid restrictions – but when Covid has abated this exemption should be continued.