THE HUNT to recover stolen TB-infected animals across Ireland has been intensified as it emerged some of the infected animals came from farms restricted because of brucellosis.
The 33 cattle with tuberculosis were taken by rustlers in south Armagh over a week ago while being collected for slaughter by vets from the Department of Agriculture.
Now it has emerged that some of the animals came from farms in the North which were restricted because of the other notorious animal disease, brucellosis.
The Northern Ireland Minister of Agriculture, Michelle Gildernew, has confirmed this.
“The theft of these cattle is an act of total irresponsibility and puts our local industry at risk once again,” Ms Gildernew said.
The minister’s confirmation put the authorities in the Republic on high alert as the Republic was only recently granted brucellosis-free status, which is a major asset to trade.
There are fears the animals could be offered for slaughter at meat plants with false ear tags or that they could be sold to farmers as legitimate animals.
Brucellosis and TB are highly infectious diseases.
The 33 stolen cattle had reacted positively to TB tests and were being collected for destruction and further testing on Monday week when they were taken.
The North’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that 17 infected cattle were taken from a field at Crossnenagh Road, Keady, Co Armagh, and a further 16 animals, which had already been loaded into a trailer parked at the side of the Castleblaney Road, were taken at about the same time.
“Stealing disease-infected cattle is a low action and totally undermines the good work being done between Dard [the department] and the industry to control and eradicate major animal diseases,” Ms Gildernew added.
The police forces and officials from the departments of agriculture on both sides of the Border, have been carrying out intensive investigations into the theft and disappearance of the animals.