TJ Maher, The Irish Farmers Association’s Animal Health Chairman, has highlighted the failure of the Department of Agriculture to address issues in the collection scheme for fallen animals.
In the IFA’s view, the scheme in its current format protects the interests of rendering plants and licensed knackeries at the expense of farmers.
He said, “In recent weeks, the IFA has received reports of knackeries charging above the maximum collection fees for fallen animals. In some areas, knackeries have refused to collect fallen sheep. This is not the first time some of these issues have been raised with the Department of Agriculture,”
“It’s simply not good enough that Minister McConalogue and the Department of Agriculture have left farmers under the heel of knackeries with a system that is anti-competitive and fails to hold fallen animal collectors accountable.”
TJ Maher added that the scheme includes significant levels of subvention payments to knackeries, but doesn’t provide for a guaranteed and competitively-priced fallen animal collection system for farmers.
“The fallen animal disposal system is in desperate need of a full review to identify the most cost-efficient means to have fallen animals removed from farms, and to create a mechanism to guarantee collection of all fallen animals.”
TJ Maher reminded farmers that it is important that they are aware that the prices (see the table below) are the maximum fees a knackery can charge for fallen animal collection, and some knackeries offer more competitive rates. Any knackeries applying higher charges are not in compliance with the subvention scheme they have signed up to.
TJ Maher said the Department of Agriculture is compelled under EU law to provide an effective and efficient fallen animal collection system for farmers as this is the only mechanism for animal disposal allowed. Despite numerous demands from IFA to resolve the issue, they have failed to do so.
The IFA is calling on the Department of Agriculture to do a proper review of the disposal arrangements, as the current system is failing to deliver for farmers.
The two main issues that must be addressed are guaranteed collection of all animals and competitive collection fees.
Fallen animals maximum collection fees
| Category | Age | Max Collection Fee |
| Bovines | +48 months | €54.03 |
| 24-48 months | €100 | |
| 12-24 months | €80 | |
| 6-12 months | €50 | |
| 3-6 months | €35 | |
| 0-3 months | €30 | |
| Sheep | €30 |