There were three cases of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) reported to the Department of Agriculture this month, the same number as in June 1997, Sean MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent, reports. However, the BSE infection rate for the year so far is five cases lower than this time last year, a development welcomed by a Department of Agriculture spokesman yesterday.
The three new cases were found in herds in counties Cork, Wexford and Wicklow and all involved mature cows.
The Cork case was found in a nine-year-old cow in a dairy herd of 261 animals. The Wexford case involved a seven-year-old cow from a 92-strong suckler herd, and the Wicklow cow was seven years old from a dairy herd of 122 animals.
These cases bring to 34 the number of cases detected so far this year. Two of these cases were cohort animals found in follow-up investigations into herds where the disease was detected.
Since the disease was first identified here in 1989, there have been 303 cases of the disease.
The Department will now enter into negotiations with the farmers who own the animals. The herds are to be purchased and all the animals slaughtered. The carcases will be rendered to bonemeal.
Since the slaughter policy was implemented, nearly £30 million has been spent on compensation paid to farmers for the loss of their herds.