Checks on BSE impress delegate from Egypt
Egyptian ban on live cattle to continue
Northern Ireland farmers severely tested by BSE crisis
Ireland goes after cattle smugglers
Protest planned over slaughter of calves
8 Letters from Irish Correspondents from Dealler's site
By Catherine Cleary January 22, 1997 Irish Times Checks on BSE impress delegate from Egypt
A member of the Egyptian veterinary delegation visiting Ireland said last night he was impressed by the measures taken here against BSE. Irish officials led by the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Yates, are trying to persuade the Egyptians to lift their ban on live cattle imports, worth £80 million to Ireland.
Prof Adel Fayed from Cairo University said he had seen the Irish eradication system in action in the first two days of the four-day trip. He told The Irish Times he had been surprised by the identification system and the way meat was handled in the slaughterhouse, with the removal of brain and spinal cord from the food chain.
Asked if Egypt would lift its ban, Prof Fayed said it was not his job to make that decision. He would be reporting back to the authorities on what he had seen. Yesterday the three-member Egyptian delegation of veterinary experts visited the Teagasc beef research centre in Co Meath and several farms. They also visited Waterford port.
Last night Mr Yates met the delegation in Dublin. A spokesman for the Department said the negotiations remained "tough" and neither side would be disclosing details of the main issues.Mr Yates told reporters that he had taken a number of measures against the BSE problem. The Department has submitted an eradication plan to the Standing Veterinary Committee of the European Commission.
"Once that's adopted there will be a clear light at the end of the tunnel."
Mr Yates said he would also seek a further round of compensation for farmers affected by BSE. He added that the Government would be willing to give the Egyptians technical assistance if they introduced an offal ban.Earlier Mr Yates announced new regulations for livestock marts which will apply from February 3rd. Under the regulations marts will be obliged to ensure that owners' names, addresses and information on the last bovine TB and brucellosis test are publicly identified before a sale.
This information, for both sheep and cattle sales, would be displayed on boards at a mart.The move was welcomed by the Irish Cattle Traders' and Stockowners' Association and the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association.
Sean MacConnell Irish Times January 23, 1997 Egyptian ban on live cattle to continue
The early removal of the ban on live cattle by the Egyptian authorities is unlikely, farming sources indicated yesterday. This follows meetings with the technical delegation from Cairo.
Although the farm organisations, shippers and others who met the delegation yesterday spoke of positive and constructive meetings, privately there was an air of despondency.
The veterinary team from Egypt, which is led by Prof Adel Fayed of Cairo University, has been stressing that it is independent of the government.
Yesterday the team met the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association and the Minister of State for Agriculture, Mr Jimmy Deenihan. They were guests at dinner last night given by the Irish Meat Association.
The IFA said that the meeting had been very positive. The IFA president, Mr John Donnelly, had assured the Egyptians of the commitment of farmers to the highest standard at production level, and emphasised the vital importance of the Egyptian market to the Irish cattle industry, it said.
"We pointed out that Irish farmers are totally committed to fully complying with all the rigorous animal health control measures now in place," said Mr Donnelly.
He added that he hoped the independent group would make a favourable report to the Egyptian authorities, and expressed satisfaction that it had found Irish animal health controls satisfactory.
The Irish Meat Association and the Department of Agriculture are preparing documentation for the Egyptians on Irish control techniques to prevent BSE-infected meat entering the food chain.
These controls involve removing the brain and spinal cord, and other matter where the disease strikes, from animals at slaughter and destroying it. The Egyptians do not remove this material from cattle imported live, and its removal requires additional equipment and skills. At this juncture there is no plan to aid the Egyptian processors directly. But there is a proposal to send Irish butchers to Egypt to teach the process, should the trade resume.
By Seán Mac Cárthaigh January 23, 1997 Irish Times Northern Ireland farmers severely tested by BSE crisis
Mad cow disease is the biggest crisis to affect the North's agriculture industry since partition, and represents a long-term problem for the industry, according to a review by Coopers & Lybrand. The survey found the overwhelming majority of executives in Northern Ireland's agribusiness companies said the British government was responsible for the BSE crisis as it affects the North, and should accept responsibility for solving it.
Some 97 per cent of companies said business had been affected by the BSE scare, with 70 per cent reporting a reduction in demand and almost one fifth admitting cash flow problems. On average, the survey says, companies experienced a fall of over 22 per cent in the value of orders over the past 12 months.
"Despite the extensive publicity given to the plight of the processing sector, farmers and hauliers were believed to have been worst hit. Just under 60 per cent said farmers had suffered most, with 21 per cent believing that the haulage sector had been worst affected," the survey says. A continuation of the export ban for another year would force the closure of 8 per cent of the firms surveyed. A majority of those questioned said another year of the ban would mean more cutbacks and further job losses.
Independent 4.1.97 comment Ireland goes after cattle smugglers
This article discusses the transfer across the border between NI and the Republic of cattle to avoid laws on BSE and growth promoters. "Operation Matador" has been started in which hundreds of gardai (police from the Republic) are being used to prevent cattle being taken across the border to get higher prices in the Republic. There were 66 cases in RI in 1996 but only 16 in 1995. Nobody is really sure what this means but it is possibly sinister. One of the reasons for the cases is thought to be the bringing of Northern Ireland cases of BSE over the border in order to claim compensation for the entire herd in the Republic.
By Sean MacConnell January 23, 1997 Irish Times Protest planned over slaughter of calves
Compassion in World Farming is to hold a street protest in Dublin today over the EU slaughter scheme for young calves.The mandatory scheme, ordered by the EU to reduce cattle numbers as a result of the BSE crisis, is due to come into operation here shortly. Male calves under 20 days old are to be slaughtered and their carcasses taken out of the food chain. Farmers are expected to get about £100 per calf in compensation.
CIWF, which has called the scheme "the slaughter of the innocents", will protest outside the Department of Agriculture offices at 11 a.m. They expect the support of TDs including Mr Tony Gregory (Ind), Mr Jim Kemmy (Lab) and Mr Chris Flood (FF). At the top of Grafton Street signatures will be collected from people opposed to the scheme. According to Ms Mary-Anne Bartlett, CIWF's Irish organiser, the focal point of the demonstration will be an "axe-wielding, bloodstained slaughterman and a life-sized model calf". She added that CIWF feared that when a calf is destined only for slaughter and disposal as waste, there is little incentive to ensure its well-being.
She said: "The scheme will do nothing to eradicate BSE. Indeed we believe that this scheme will damage the beef industry further. The image of calves being killed and disposed of can only be distressing to the public. We are asking Mr Yates to show compassion towards these tiny calves by abandoning the Calf Processing Aid Scheme."
Farming sources say that there may be little demand for the scheme here because calves are currently being sold for more than £100. But if prices fall there may be a greater demand. A quarter of all the businesses surveyed said they expected difficulties with creditors or their banks if the ban continues.
6.8.96 BSE born after the feed ban in Ireland: Who cares?
Over the last fortnight six new cases of BSE have been confirmed in Ireland. The latest two are the most interesting as they are two four and five year old cows (different herds). However, the MBM ban has been in force here four more than four years. Early indications are that the four year old is a native born calf. Both media and department of Agriculture are scanty on details. Current offical cumulative BSE total for the Republic of Ireland is 135.
Clearly where young, post-MBM ban, cattle come down with BSE the possibility of widespread mother-calf transmission has got to be seriously considered by the authorities. The attitude here among farmers and vets seems to be that based on a type of dissonance - we know it, but we won't believe it.
8.8.96 Regarding the (relatively) low incidence of BSE in Ireland
1. The whole herd slaughter policy pursued by the department of Agriculture has both managed to remove obvious symptomatic cases and "hidden" the true incidence in the process. Moreover, the use of concentrates is a relatively new phenomenon here (led by the dairy sector). Traditionally, most feed was silage based. Over the last ten to twelve years conctrate consumption has risen from 200K tons to 800K tons.
2. A condition known as the "staggers" or "head staggers" has been known here since God knows when. Since BSE however, few people speak of it. Whether the "staggers" and BSE were/are equivalent is a moot point that I can't answer.
3. In jocular mood, both vets and farmers speak of a new disease here rivalling BSE. This new syndrome called JCB, after a earth mover brand, refers to the possibility that some farmers kill and bury early cases of BSE rather than be exposed to departmental scrutiny. Personally, I suspect this irreverence is not entirely anecdotal. Farmers are also likely to have moved suspect cases "off to the factory" in the past.
4. Farming here takes place within a culture of suspicion of departmental initatives. This leads to various forms of non-cooperation and sloppy standards. For example, the state has spent hundreds of millions of pounds on bovine TB eradication over the last twenty five years, yet it is no nearer being eradicated. Animal husbandry practices are one explanation. Ignorance and bad-mindedness also play a part. Farmers don't want to be "found out" and attempt to hide livestock problems. TB cases in particular.
5. Finally, anyone who followed our infamous Beef Tribunal, which led an investigation into the beef processing industry, will have listened to an egregious expose of systematic corruption and dubious practices. Read Fiantan O'Toole's fine work "Meanwhile back at the ranch", Fonatana press. Denial, hiding and ignoring of problems are endemic in Irish agriculture, both official and unofficial.
6. On a final technical point, a lot of pedigree dairy cattle were imported here from the early eighties' onwards mainly from the UK and Holland. I am interested in whether semen importation also brought with it BSE.
13.8.96 Crank and scaremongerers
Over the last week both Irish farm organsiations and the department of Agriculture have mounted a well-covered media effort to reassure consumers that milk is "perfectly safe". Any commentator who mildly queried the premises of the argument could be labelled a crank or scaremongerer.
I must remark to other readers of this digest that the Irish media have surpassed previous standards of docility and servility in reporting on the Irish incidence of BSE. The main focus in all media has been on the negative commercial implications of the crisis. Importantly, the voice of Irish farming, the Farmer's Journal, published a few weeks ago a long letter from a English farmer who habitually bought calves here for fattening. The letter writer asserted that the only cases of BSE he experienced were from two imported Irish animals. Moreover, these animals would have been quite young. To my knowledge no one in the Irish media saw fit to follow up this story and ascertain its validity. Extrordinary.
The British Observer remains the primary source of information on new developments here. Incidentally, to what extent can we say, if at all, that dairy products are safe? (Dairy products are probably OK but I wish we had more evidencee.)
14.8.96 BSE in a four year old cow
Another case of BSE in a four year old cow was announced yesterday in the Republic of Ireland. Officially this is now listed as the 137th case of BSE in Ireland and the 22nd this year. Vetinary officials were reported as being "worried" as this is the second case occurring in an animal born after the MBM ban in Ireland - officially MBM was banned in 1989. Ireland's rate of BSE continues to be startlingly low - 137 cases in over seven million cattle. Northern Ireland has recorded approximately 1,500 cases in 1.6 million cattle. Despite the policy of culling both the herd the case occurs in and the one it has come from, there is little evidence that anyone has drawn the logical inference that all offspring from the parent herd should be traced and culled. Obviously this might affect 75% of the herd.
It was officially announced yesterday that three new cases of BSE have been identified in Irish cattle. Two cases concerned old cows (approaching eight years) while one was again in a young cow (four years). Department officials also announced that they were aware of rumours to the effect that dairy farmers in difficulties were actively seeking BSE cattle from Northern herds and smuggling them across the border. Ear tags would then be switched. Interestingly officials did not discount the rumours and certainly it now appears that very serious scrutiny of future claims involving young cattle will be applied. One could be cynical and analyse this as 'white propaganda'. However, there may be some truth in the allegations. For readers not familiar with the economic implications of the border, pig and cattle smuggling to and fro were a pastime in the border counties up until quite recently. Tag switching? Animal smuggling?
As an aside your correspondent was contacted by a farmer in the South of the country who is convinced that a particular outbreak of BSE on a neighbouring farm involved an animal smuggled down from the North. Coupling the generous level of compensation paid to Irish farmers with a collapsing cattle price, the incentive to discover BSE in a herd is very high among unscrupulous people.
The official tally in Ireland is now 140 cases of BSE, 25 of which were identified since January '96.
5.12.96 Further cases in Ireland
Believe it or not, more cases were reported yesterday. It now appears that the grand official total for all years to date is 175 -- 63 of which occurred this year *alone*. The true incidence is of course hidden by the whole herd slaughter policy. The press reported today that Russia was considering extending its ban from 3 to 10 counties. The complete indifferene to debate on BSE and CJD is very depressing.
The BSE situation here is depressingly worse with media, government, industry and farm lobbies sticking their heads in the sand. (or is that a pile of MBM?). The number of reported cases for 1996 was approximately 78, compared to 16 in 1995. The cumulative total is around 185 cases. Despite the growth in the rate of BSE animals there is a complete denial from all sources of maternal transmission.
Russia has now banned the importation of beef from an additional five counties (making eight in total). Egypt has banned all live imports but continues to take some carcase meat.
Recently I was touring a local meat plant - very large, professional and mechanical. Now while the spinal cord and brain are removed and destroyed, I asked myself about the trustworthiness of all that channel fat and cartilige making its way towards the tallow rendering section. Is tallow safe? Is the byproduct of the process (known here as greaves) safe to handle - someone has to dump it? Is any offal safe indeed? Note that grade 1 tallow is used in biscuit manufature and is extracted at temperatures in and around 100 C.
Letter 15.10.96 Russians partially lift Irish ban
Russian officials have agreed to a lifting of the ban on Irish beef imports subject to a condition that beef from herds raised in counties Cork, Monaghan and Tipperary remain banned. Russian vets are unhappy with the levels of BSE detected in theses counties.
On a different and more sinister note, the Minsiter announced a garda (police) inquiry into three reported cases of BSE in Cork. The possibility that BSE infected cattle were smuggled down from the North is under investigation. Compensation payments have been until recently at above market value hence the incentive to "discover" BSE in a herd. It is also reported that one of the farmers under investigation was a repeat BSE case who previously was suspected of infecting his cattle with brucella.
Letter 22.10.96 Teaching farmers how to make money, not avoid the disease
New official BSE total is now 153. Reports in the media suggest that Iranian officials are seeking a twelve counties ban (nine more over and above the Russians). I attended a seminar this week on the implications of BSE for farmers. The "content" of the seminar was exclusively directed at how farmers could maximise subsidies and premia, etc. The potential public health implications of BSE went unmentioned. Nowhere is there any adequate treatment of VT, though the Farmer's Journal cited a recent comment, attributed to Wilesmith, that the UK VT study over estimated the percentage, and VT was much lower than had been estimated.