Dáil hears of BSE impact of illegal knackeries

ILLEGAL knackeries in the vicinity of two farms in Limerick and Kerry may have been among the factors that contributed to BSE outbreaks last year in young cattle, the Dáil has been told.

BSE was confirmed in a 45-month-old bull in Co Limerick at the end of November and in a 46-month-old Friesian cow in Co Kerry in the week before Christmas.

The 1999-born animals were located 20 miles apart. They were born within a week of one another and after strict animal feed controls were introduced.