The owner of 13 cattle who were left to starve to death in a forest near Mullinahone, Co Tipperary, has been condemned as reckless by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Mr Noel Davern.
An angry Mr Davern said the animals were clearly "of dubious origin". He condemned the behaviour of whoever was responsible especially with the State under threat of foot-and-mouth disease.
Mr Davern urged the public to assist the gardai in their investigation into the case so that vital agricultural and food sectors could be protected from "unscrupulous people".
The case of animal torture and cruelty has also been condemned by Tipperary ISPCA member Mr Conor Hickey.
"These animals were left to starve to death. It was disgraceful. It's very hard to understand how anybody could do this to an animal," he said.
The 13 cattle were found last Friday in an emaciated condition and scattered over a 50-acre area at Pollagh's, a new wooded area near Mullinahone and Nine-Mile House.
Twelve of the 13 were found dead and the other animal had to be put down.
Mr Davern said he was angered by the Mullinahone discovery which followed the recent finding of unidentifiable cattle roaming in the Glen of Aherlow in Co Tipperary.