Draught horse wipe out threat rears its head

AN extinction threat to the traditional Irish draught workhorse has been raised in the Dáil by Cork North Central Labour TD Kathleen Lynch.

She asked Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan whether she would take steps to ensure the continuation of the breed.

The Minister replied that she is aware that the Irish draught is an endangered breed, adding that the department had funded four projects on the Irish draught horse in recent years, in the context of conservation and utilisation of genetic resources for food and agriculture.