BSE tests on cow in O’Keeffe’s dairy herd

THE results of BSE tests being carried out on an eight-year old cow in former Minister of State Ned O’Keeffe’s dairy herd are not expected until later this week.

Mr O’Keeffe, a Fianna Fáil TD for Cork East, said an investigation by the Department of Agriculture and Food is taking place after a cow on a leased outside farm fell down. The investigation had not yet concluded. A movement restriction order has been placed on the 130 animals in the herd near Mitchelstown, Co Cork, a normal practice pending the outcome of the laboratory tests.

Each Friday, the department of issues a list of cases registered during that week, detailing the age and county of the infected animal and whether it is from a dairy or a suckler herd.