Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Farmers fight ban on exports of live animals for slaughter
Petition sparks welfare concerns
ULSTER farmers are fighting plans to ban them from exporting live animals for slaughter.
Hundreds of thousands of cattle, sheep, pigs and chickens are sent across Europe to be killed for our tables.
Concerns have been raised about the welfare of animals sent on long journeys to their final destination.
A petition calling for a ban has gathered the support of more than 100,000 people across the UK.
A USPCA spokesman said: “It’s something we would be in support of and would have been for years.
“Exports through the North and into the Republic represent a major welfare concern for us.”
He told how animals can legally spend up to 28 hours in transit, adding: “Some of them are very young animals such as calves travelling to the south of Spain.
“It’s traffic we do not like and we want it banned.”
However, the Ulster Farmers’ Union’s David Brown said there must be no such ban.
He added: “We have outlined the importance of animal transport to the Northern Ireland livestock industry in recent months.
“The live export of cattle and sheep forms an integral part of the Northern Ireland livestock sector, injecting in excess of £70million into local farm businesses per year.
“Over 50,000 cattle and 500,000 sheep are exported live annually for further production or slaughter in other regions of the UK and to EU member states.” Mr Brown said animal welfare during transport “is already taken very seriously” here and existing regulations are enough.
He added: “The Ulster Farmers’ Union believe these regulations already provide stringent and accountable regulation.
“Northern Ireland has an excellent reputation for breeding high-quality livestock and these animals have been exported to a wide range of countries across the European Union.
“It is essential that farmers have access to these markets.”
Environment Minister Michael Gove introduced the idea of a ban on live animal exports after leaving the EU in a bid to fulfil one of the Conservative party’s manifesto promises.
He said: “All animals deserve to get the respect and care they deserve at every stage of their lives.” In April, the Department for Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs asked for opinions on the issue.
Chief veterinary officer Robert Huey said at the time: “As the agricultural industry in Northern Ireland is involved in the transportation of significant volumes of live animals to Great Britain, Ireland and to other European member states, I would encourage all key stakeholders to make their voices heard.
“In order to create a complete and rounded picture, I encourage anyone with an interest in this area to consider the document and submit evidence.”
YESTERDAY