AHI and ICBF told to contact An Post as “significant issues” with delayed post raise fears on calf registration

ICMSA Livestock chairperson Michael O Connell has called for urgent action from AHI and ICBF in relation to ongoing issues with postage in advance of the peak calving period.  Mr. O’Connell said that over the past number of months, there has been significant issues with postage where we have seen post not arriving at the end-destination for up to two weeks after the initial posting date.

“This is serious and we need AHI and ICBF to reach out on this issue to An Post before the onset of peak calving period this Spring and sort it out if we are to avoid a mess. Spring calving is stressful enough without farmers panicking and worrying as to whether their BVD samples or genotyping samples have reached labs”, said Mr. O’Connell.

The ICMSA Livestock Chairperson also stressed how important it is that farmer receive cards as soon as possible following on from sample testing and registration.

“Considering the period we are in, it is crucially important that farmers receive ‘Blue Cards’ as quickly as possible to allow farmers to market their calves and achieve optimum prices this spring”, he continued.

Referring to the increase in cost of postage as announced last week by An post, Mr. O’Connell said that “obviously” ICMSA do not welcome an increase in costs at any time but were aware how businesses had to work.

“That’s not the issue; the issue is that we being asked to pay an increase for a service that seems to be losing reliability at present. That’s a different matter and that’s unacceptable”, he concluded.

Ends       15 January 2026

Michael O’Connell, 086-8551015

Chairperson, ICMSA Livestock Committee

Or

Cathal MacCarthy, 087-6168758

ICMSA Press Office