Farmers can now apply for licence to bury dead animals on their land 

Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue said the short-term measure was due to the 'challenges' farmers are facing as a result of having to keep fallen animals on their farms. File picture

Farmers can, for the first time in 20 years, apply for a licence to bury dead animals on their land due to an ongoing dispute between renderers and animal collectors.

The announcement has been met with concern from environmental groups, who said the disposal of animals on farms could “pose a serious risk of pollution and disease”.