Torture to watch livestock die for want of fodder’

A dairy farmer yesterday spoke of the “mental torture” of watching cattle starve to death.

Declan Hurley, who is also a county councillor in Cork, said many people outside of farming do not realise the raw emotions facing farmers in the dairy and beef industries.

“Farmers have a duty of care towards their animals and when they can’t feed them, they feel they have failed. It’s very mentally draining for farmers, it’s a torture to watch livestock die for want of fodder,” said the West Cork-based Independent councillor.