Changes in dosing regime to be fought

GALWAY IFA’s Animal Health Representative, Stephen Canavan, has pledged ‘vehement opposition’ to plans coming down the track to bring in prescription regulations for dosing and dipping products.

He told the Farming Tribune that the Department ‘didn’t seem to get it’  in terms of what the implications of such a move would be for farmers across the country.

“In terms of parasitic control for such things as fluke and worms, farmers currently operate under a very routine, traceable and controlled system.

“We are absolutely and vehemently opposed to any changes that will require farmers to only get dosing on a prescription basis, both from a management point of view and the monopoly type market situation that would then apply,” said Stephen Canavan.

He said that common-sense seemed to have ‘gone out the window’ with the Department, citing the example of a prescription being needed for sheep dip to ensure the control of maggots.

“Every sheep farmer knows that sheep need to be dipped to prevent maggots in July – this is purely routine animal welfare that farmers have practised down through the years,” he added.

Stephen Canavan also warned that more restrictive regulations were also being put forward at EU level as regards antibiotic usage on the basis of farmers needing a prescription for each individual dose administered.

“A sheep farmer with 100 ewes, will know that over the course of the lambing season, that he or she will a couple of bottles of penicillin.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App

Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.

Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite  HERE.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.