‘I have never felt such a Judas in my life’ – Limerick farmer’s guilt for sending cows to the factory after TB reactors
John Bateman from Croom, Co Limerick, whose farm has been hit by TB in the past. Photos: Don Moloney
' No matter what you get in compensation, you’d much prefer it didn’t happen'
'“It’s very hard to eradicate TB when the tests are not that accurate'
'“I had a mixture of cows and cattle, but will only buy back cattle now'
Limerick farmer John Bateman says he felt like Judas last October when he walked his cows into the yard.
Instead of going milking, they were being loaded on to a lorry destined for the factory after a number of TB reactors were found in his herd last year.
“The morning the cows went, I went up to bring them down, knowing they were going to the factory. I have never felt such a Judas in my life,” he said.
' No matter what you get in compensation, you’d much prefer it didn’t happen'
“You were there at their births and their mother’s births, but it’s outside the door and you have to cope with it.
“There is a huge impact on your livelihood. You get your compensation when you’re out, but all you’re doing is taking from it and then you have to go back and buy back stock. No matter what you get in compensation, you’d much prefer it didn’t happen.”
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John’s farm, just outside Croom, has been hit several times with TB over the years and says TB is rampant in the area.
“The real issue is they are still using the same test as they were 50 years ago and a blood test.
“One produces false negatives and the other produces false positives. My tests show that.
“It’s very hard to eradicate TB when the tests are not that accurate. They need to put serious money into research and come up with a test that works.
'“It’s very hard to eradicate TB when the tests are not that accurate'
“You can blame wildlife or anything, but the tests need to improve and be more accurate. They need to look at the whole system, top to toe.
“It’s costing the Government and farmers too much money and it throws all systems topsy turvy.”
Bateman had been milking cows and keeping around 100 head of cattle before his most recent TB outbreak.
“It’s a hard thing for a farmer to go through, but there is no progress being made, so the bigger picture needs to be looked at — the system does not seem to be working,” he said.
'“I had a mixture of cows and cattle, but will only buy back cattle now'
He bought cattle last week to restock the farm and is “delighted to see something around the place”.
“I had a mixture of cows and cattle, but will only buy back cattle now — it’s lovely to walk up the field and look at them.”
“I bought them from a farmer in Tullamore, 21 heifers and 30 bullocks and I'm delighted to have them.”
