CLA alert issued to sheep owners

Sheep flock owners were urged yesterday to be more alert in order to prevent the spread of CLA, a bacterial disease.

CLA does not represent a risk to consumers, but it can cause considerable economic losses in sheep flocks due to poor weight gain, lower wool yields and reproductive inefficiency, as well as devaluation of hides and condemnation of carcases at slaughter.

Minister of State Liam Aylward said there are grounds for believing there is substantial under-reporting. The available evidence suggests the disease is common in many flocks.