Deer management project is launched
THE new County Wicklow Deer Management Project, which is being implemented by Wicklow Uplands Council and County Wicklow Deer Management Project was launched in recent days.
The launch comes following the awarding of a three year contract for the provision of deer management services in Co Wicklow.
The contract aims to address the unsustainable deer population in the county and follows extensive years of study and consultation with stakeholders regarding the challenges it creates including extensive damage to forestry and agricultural lands, native woodlands and private gardens, the spread of diseases to livestock, negative impact to sensitive biodiversity such as upland peat-land habitats, road traffic collisions and deer welfare issues.
Brian Dunne, Co-ordinator of Wicklow Uplands Council said that the project is a ‘very welcome opportunity to deliver long term sustainable deer management practices to the areas affected by the sizeable population.’
The project will see the establishment of three Deer Management Units (DMU) throughout the county with each of the units overseeing the management of the deer population in their area using knowl- edge on the terrain and deer habits unique to their locality.
The formation of deer management plans for each of these units is built around working collaboratively with landowners, hunters and key stakeholders such as the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Coillte.
According to Pat Dunne of Wicklow Deer Management Partnership ‘Deer management can be carried out at a local level but it is much more effective when strategically coordinated at a regional level. The project will assess and reduce the adverse impacts of deer in each of these units with appropriate management processes.’
The gathering of information on county Wicklow’s deer population is a key objective of the programme, beginning with the establishment of baseline data on damage levels caused by the large population. Data collected will be closely monitored and recorded over the three year period and will feature in interim and final reports.
The complex project includes provisions for public awareness, education, knowledge transfer and training to promote best practices and will contribute to future local and national action plans.
Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle, who attended the launch said that similar projects have been rolled out across Europe.
‘ This project will put sustainable deer management within the county on a more professional basis and promote knowledge transfer throughout the county. Projects such as this are normal in other parts of Europe, where deer, forestry and habitats all coexist in harmony. The findings of the project in Wicklow, will serve as a sustainable model to consider for other parts of the country where similar challenges are beginning to form’.
Wicklow Uplands Council is currently seeking applications for the role of a part time project co-ordinator who will be responsible for the implementation of the project over its three year term. For information see www.wicklowuplands.ie
CATTLE SALE AUGUST 29: Bigger sale of nicer quality cattle. Bullocks: HE - 35M, 805kg - €1,690 SIM - 40M, 715kg - €1,260; BB - 28M, 535kg - €1,180; LM - 40M, 610kg - €1,165; LM - 25M, 485kg - €1,150; LM - 28M, 475kg - €1,150; CH - 14M, 505kg - €1,100; SIM - 19M, 525kg - €1,100; LM - 29M, 510kg - €1,090.
Heifers: HE - 33M, 775kg - €1515; HE - 35M, 675kg - €1,340; HE - 29M, 645kg - €1,280; HE - 25M, 605kg - €1,240; AA - 17M, 425kg - €880; CH - 16M, 420kg - €840; HE - 16M, 425kg - €840. Fat cows making up to €1500
SHEEP SALE SEPTEMBER 1: Improved trade for hogget ewes of €5-€10 / head. 2 and 3 year old ewes met a far improved trade.
One pen of Suffolk X ewe lambs made €118 @ 41 KG. Heavy lambs similar to last week. Customer demand improved for lighter lambs.
HDS 15 – 43kg – €118; HDS 10 – 51kg – €104; HDS 10 – 48kg – €100; HDS 12 - 46kg - €100; HDS 22 - 38kg - €98; HDS 13 - 35kg - €95.
SHEEP SALES REPORT - TUESDAY AUGUST 28: A total of 2,656 sheep on offer. Fat lambs easier by €2 to €5 per head on last week. Steady trade for store lambs. Breeding hoggets met with a very lively trade.
Butcher Lambs €100 to €105 or €52 to €57 over €/kg; Factory Lambs €87 to €100 or €47 to €55 over €/kg; Store Lambs €60 to €85 or €30 to €45 over €/kg; Fat Ewes €96 to €125 per head; Feeding Ewes €66 to €95 per head; Suffolk x Breeding Hoggets €140 to €190 per head; Suffolk x Ewe Lambs €90 to €150 or €50 to €106 over €/kg.
CATTLE SALES REPORT - AUGUST 30: A total of 264 cattle &and 20 calves on offer. Similar trade to last week for all classes. Plainer, poorer quality cattle very hard to sell.
Beef and Forward Store Bullocks - €550 to €880 over €/kg; Store Bullocks over 500kg - €500 to €825 over €/kg; Store Bullocks over 400kg - €380 to €640 over €/kg; Store Bullocks over 300kg - €275 to €560 over €/kg; Beef and Butcher Heifers - €500 to €800 over €/kg; Store Heifers over 400kg - €380 to €550 over €/kg; Store Heifers over 300Kg - €300 to €470 over €/kg; Fat Cows - €370 to €800 over €/kg; Feeding Cows - €/kg to €320 over €/kg; Cows with Calves at Foot - €1,150 to €1250 per unit.
Calves: Fr Bulls - €50 to €110 per head; HE/AA Bulls - €120 to €240 per head; HE/AA Heifers - €100 to €180 per head; Continental Bulls - €160 to €300 per head; Continental Heifers - €140 to €280 per head.
CATTLE SALE - SEPTEMBER 1: Very large sale with 1,220 cattle on offer. Beef & quality cattle continue to meet a very strong demand, while plainer dairy breed cattle are slower to sell. Up to €1040 over the KG paid for quality beef cattle.
Beef & Forward Blks - €580 - €1,040 over; Cont Store Blks - €430 - €840 over; HD AA Blks - €220 - €650 over; FR Blks - €100 - €580 over; Beef Hef - €530 - €840 over; Cont Store Hef - €350 - €750 over; HD AA Hef - €180 - €440 over; Beef Cows - €360 - €650 over; Store Cows - €100 under - €380 over
SHEEP SALE - AUGUST 30: A total of 2,450 sheep on offer. Butcher and factory lots selling from €92 - €112, similar to last weeks. Store lambs improved with more customers and prices up €2/€3 per head. No change in brood ewe prices.
Lambs over 50kg - €102 - €118; 45-49kg - €90 - €104; 4044kg - €81 - €96; 35-39kg - €72 - €85; Under 35kg - €55 - €83; Cull Ewes - €48 - €112; Hoggett Ewes - €110 - €156; Older Breeding Ewes - €90 - €132; Breeding Rams - €150 - €385.