Tipperary farm leader calls for Bluetongue Vaccine to be made available in smaller volumes

The Deputy President of ICMSA, Eamon Carroll, has called for the Bluetongue Vaccine to be made available in smaller volumes than the current minimum of 50 vaccines in the interests of lowering costs on farmers.

Mr Carroll said that in the present circumstances, attention must be given to lowering costs on farmers, he said that the 50-vaccine minimum is acting as a disincentive to vaccinate and is also leading to wastage of the vaccine itself.

READ MORE: LIVE: Investigation into operational issue involving trains on Tipperary/Laois border

“ICMSA has been contacted by members in recent days highlighting the fact that they can only purchase the Bluetongue Vaccine at a minimum of 50 vaccines meaning that a farmer with 30 animals has to pay for 50 vaccines while a farmer with 180 animals has to pay for 200 vaccines.

Mr Carroll said that at a time when all other costs are escalating considerably and when farmers should be encouraged to vaccinate their animals, a minimum purchase of 50 is adding to the cost.

“A very simple and completely workable solution is to make available smaller allocations of 10 or 20 vaccines so that farmers can purchase the amount required for their own herd, thus minimising the cost and also ensuring that vaccine is not unnecessarily wasted”, noted the ICMSA Deputy President.

READ MORE: LONG READ: Inside the 'seasonal scourge' terrorising rural landowners across Tipperary

Mr Carroll concluded by noting the huge concern in relation to the potential impact of Bluetongue over the coming months and the Minister for Agriculture, Food & Marine must ensure that farmers are facilitated in every way possible to vaccinate their animals and this must include the availability of vaccine in smaller volumes.