Commenting, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue stated: ‘‘Anti-parasitic resistance is a major challenge to the health of animals in the country and can impact on the profitability of farms. Recent analysis carried out by Teagasc and published in 2020, found worrying levels of resistance to anti-parasitic medicines on the farms in the study.
This new TASAH programme will specifically focus on parasite controls on farms this year. The development of a structured parasite control plan is critical to addressing the increasing challenge of anti-parasitic resistance. This measure will allow farmers engage a specifically trained veterinarian, at no cost to the farmer, to provide advice on parasite control measures in their herd/flock. This free TASAH programme will be delivered by Animal Health Ireland (AHI).”
The TASAH funding will provide for a farm visit and veterinary consultation, free of charge to the farmer, to advise on parasite control by a trained veterinary practitioner, to include faecal egg sampling and interpretation.
Minister McConalogue added: ‘‘I encourage all bovine and sheep farmers to register with the portal on AHI’s website to get the best practice advice on parasitic control for their holdings. Reducing the development of anti-parasitic resistance is crucial to support farm profitability. DAFM has worked closely with the EU Commission and with stakeholders in getting this TASAH activity up and running. The measure will assist in identifying non effective treatments, reducing the frequency of treatments where necessary, and increase the capacity for monitoring and testing as part of a health plan. This will be a farmer-friendly initiative that will help drive improvements at animal health level as well as farm profitability.”
Farmers will receive individual farm specific parasite control recommendations from the veterinarian visit. As anti-parasitic medicines may only be supplied on foot of a veterinary prescription from June this year, where such products are required, the consulting veterinarian can provide a prescription at that time.
David Graham, CEO of Animal Health Ireland stated: “AHI is delighted to be working with DAFM in the delivery of this activity, which provides a basis for cattle and sheep farmers to engage with their veterinary practitioner on parasite control, ensuring that these important medicines are used
prudently as part of a wider control strategy that includes measures to maintain their effectiveness and avoid the development of resistance.” Farmers can register online at https://ahiportal.powerappsportals.com/PCFR/ or speak to their respective Private Veterinarian Practitioner. The programme will run until 31 December 2022.
