CMMS figures show 500,000 cattle ‘lost’

ALMOST half a million cattle have vanished over four years from the national Computerised Cattle Monitoring System (CMMS).

There has been an average loss of 2,400 head of livestock per week between 2002 and 2006, not accounted for by animal deaths or exports.

All cattle born in Ireland or imported go into the electronically compiled records, as do those slaughtered or exported live.