Host Wendy Conlon was joined on November 5th by a trio of vets including Nikki Walshe UCD, Hazel Mullins President of Veterinary Ireland, and Sue Salter SES Equine Veterinary Services to discuss the importance of the Client - Practice -Patient relationship. 

The impending 2025 introduction of a National Veterinary Prescription System and inclusion of anti-parasitic drugs as Prescription Only Medicine (POM) were discussed alongside antimicrobial resistance. The panellists spoke of the opportunities and challenges presented by the upcoming changes while providing very practical insights into why working with a vet that knows the farm well can have the very best outcome not just in managing clinical disease but as importantly in preventative approaches which are often cost saving in the long run.

Worth a watch - three ladies who spoke a lot of common sense !

DAFM have issued a notification regarding the 2024 equine census return which is to take place on Saturday November 30th, and a new equine traceability system to be launched in tandem. 

DAFM notice:

"The new traceability system will be based on equine census returns; it is therefore critically important that all people keeping equines complete a census. 

Failure to return a census or, submission of a nil return, will result in an equine premises registration number (EPRN) being made inactive on the Departments systems which may in future prevent keepers of equines from being able to 

• Register foals
• Export horses
• Sell horses

Where EPRNs are deactivated, those keepers, who intend to keep horses in the future, will have to reapply to their Regional Veterinary Office to reactivate their EPRN. "

EPRNs are also required for access to various DAFM schemes, so consider implications in this regard also. 

DAFM will be writing to all registered equine keepers to request the completion of a census return. 

Returns can be submitted by post or online through the Agfood.ie portal and the census letter will contain more details.

Any queries to [email protected]

The National Parks and Wildlife Farm Plan Scheme is open for applications to fund actions for biodiversity. 

This year's scheme will allow for additional 200 farmers (over 300 currently participating). Participants can choose from one of two themes - a five year management approach, or a one off 'Actions for Nature'. The applicant does not need to be a farmer - land manager who wish to manage land for nature can apply.

Priority is offered to lands in designated sites, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Areas, and Natural Heritage Areas or where species of conservation concern exist. 

Plans leading to a risk of double-funding where participants are funded by other agri-environmental schemes e.g. ACRES/ LIFE/ EIPs cannot be facilitated.

From Teagasc Equine Specialist Team Wendy Conlon and Seán Keane

[email protected]   and   [email protected]