11/01/2010
Cattle 'Attack' Condemned
A potentially deadly attempt to infect cattle in rural Co Armagh has been condemned.
Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Tom Elliott, has said that "vile" efforts to infect a healthy herd, through the dumping of a brucellosis infected bovine foetus, "beggar belief".
Speaking after revelations from the Department of Agriculture that the foetus was opened from its neck to its belly and meal placed over it and in it, and dumped in the feeding area of field on farmland at Lislea, Co Armagh where cows, calves and a bull were grazing, the Fermanagh farmer said: "I welcome confirmation from the Minister that DNA science will be used to track down the perpetrators of this disgusting act, and would urge farmers to be ultra vigilant.
"This was clearly a very deliberate and malicious act and as such beggars belief. The manner in which this animal was dumped, so as to lure the herd into becoming infected, is utterly unspeakable.
"While I am aware of cases within Northern Ireland where it has previously been claimed or alleged that animals have been deliberately infected, this graphic act demonstrates the depth to which these people - who are bringing the farming industry into disrepute - will stoop.
"This issue must be tackled as a matter of urgency and an appropriate punishment meted out.
"There are many implications related to this issue, as neighbouring farms could be subjected to the disease and indeed the Department left to shoulder increased costs in responding to the problem," he said.
"Working alongside the Department we should be seeking to eradicate Brucellosis, and cannot allow deliberate acts of this nature to escape without an appropriately severe punishment."
(BMcC/GK)
Ulster Unionist Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA, Tom Elliott, has said that "vile" efforts to infect a healthy herd, through the dumping of a brucellosis infected bovine foetus, "beggar belief".
Speaking after revelations from the Department of Agriculture that the foetus was opened from its neck to its belly and meal placed over it and in it, and dumped in the feeding area of field on farmland at Lislea, Co Armagh where cows, calves and a bull were grazing, the Fermanagh farmer said: "I welcome confirmation from the Minister that DNA science will be used to track down the perpetrators of this disgusting act, and would urge farmers to be ultra vigilant.
"This was clearly a very deliberate and malicious act and as such beggars belief. The manner in which this animal was dumped, so as to lure the herd into becoming infected, is utterly unspeakable.
"While I am aware of cases within Northern Ireland where it has previously been claimed or alleged that animals have been deliberately infected, this graphic act demonstrates the depth to which these people - who are bringing the farming industry into disrepute - will stoop.
"This issue must be tackled as a matter of urgency and an appropriate punishment meted out.
"There are many implications related to this issue, as neighbouring farms could be subjected to the disease and indeed the Department left to shoulder increased costs in responding to the problem," he said.
"Working alongside the Department we should be seeking to eradicate Brucellosis, and cannot allow deliberate acts of this nature to escape without an appropriately severe punishment."
(BMcC/GK)
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