Council to seek legal advice on banning manure

Cork County Council is to seek legal advice on whether it can ban the “importation” into the county of manure which has been claimed to contain chicken carcasses and which has led to an outbreak of botulism in cattle.

At a meeting in County Hall yesterday, a number of councillors echoed IFA concerns about the increase in cattle botulism in parts of North Cork, where the manure is being spread.

Farming bodies and councillors said carrion crows are picking up the remains of the carcasses and transferring the disease from fields where the manure is being spread into adjoining fields where cattle are grazing.

Cllr Tim Collins (Ind) said the manure was being imported into the region from some chicken farms in Limerick and was being spread as fertiliser.

“Dead chickens are coming across as well (in the manure) and we know how serious that it. It should be banned,” Mr Collins said.

Cllr Bart Donegan (FF) said he appreciated that chicken manure was a very good fertiliser, but it wasn’t good to have it affecting the health of cattle in adjoining farms.

He said the Department of Agriculture should carry out more spotchecks before the manure leaves Limerick and again when it arrives in Cork to ensure it doesn’t contain any traces of chicken carcasses.

Cllr Kevin Murphy (FG) said: “We should be prudent and take a decision to ban the manure for the sake of the animals.”

He maintained that other counties had introduced bans in such cases through bylaws. “We should take legal advice as well,” he added.

County manager Martin Riordan told councillors he was aware of their concerns and would seek legal advice. However, he added that he personally felt the council wouldn’t have the power to introduce a ban on its importation.

He said the council should also write to the Department of Agriculture asking it carry out more spotchecks to ensure the manure was free of carcass.