HORSE keepers have until Friday, December 17th to return a completed equine census form to the Department of Agriculture. This is the first census of its kind in Ireland and the forms can be filled in online or in paper format.

In August the Department contacted the owners of all registered equine premises, advising them of the census. Minister Charlie McConalogue wrote at that time: “The census will provide important information in the event of an equine disease outbreak, in addressing public health concerns and in dealing with lost, straying or stolen horses”.

Keepers will be required to record the total number of equines present on their holding on census night, which was last Monday, November 29th. The Unique Equine Life Number (UELN), also known as the passport number, of each equine that has been identified with an identification document will also be required, as will the approximate date on which each animal moved to the premises.

This inaugural equine census is one of the Department’s listed priorities for 2021 and forms part of a series of measures the Minister proposes to initiate to support the welfare of equidae.

The census is designed to create an initial link between each equine kept in the State on census day and the premises on which it is kept at that time. A profile of all equines present on a holding on that date will be created on the Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system.

It is expected that the formal linking of equines to their keepers will increase compliance with equine legislation which places responsibility on the keeper for ensuring the health and welfare of all animals in his/her care.

The Department’s preferred mechanism for submission of census data remains online via agfood.ie but paper returns will now also be accepted for census returns. A bulk upload facility has also been developed in agfood.ie to facilitate keepers with large numbers of equines.

Web: agfood.ie, Tel: 01-5058881

Email: horseid@agriculture.gov.ie