THE latest report on cattle deaths in Askeaton, Co Limerick, shows that whatever environmental factor caused more than 170 animal fatalities which began in 1988 is now absent.
Farmers expressed unease at the report's timing, which gives the area a clean bill of health days before a public hearing into an application by the Aughinish Alumina plant for an integrated pollution control licence.
The chairman of Limerick IFA Animal Health Committee criticised the veterinary investigation in the study. Mr David Thompson claimed more extensive investigation of veterinary samples could have given clearer indication of the cause.
The Environmental Protection Agency study, due to be published today, confirms its 1995 finding that the area is not subject to significant pollution.
Emission of gases such as sulphur dioxide from nearby industry - notably Moneypoint power station and the Aughinish Alumina plant does not exceed recommended limits for human health protection.
An EPA spokesman, Dr Paul Toner, said estimated emissions of sulphur dioxide had decreased by 20 per cent since the early 1990s.
Long term measurements of air quality in the area, however, show no significant change in conditions in the past decade. The report noted improvements in emission control, particularly in Moneypoint.
Among the findings in the second interim EPA report are:
. Cattle performance at the two worst affected farms have returned to normal.
. Incidence of congenital birth, defects in babies is similar to elsewhere in Limerick.
. Mineral content in herb age is within ranges expected in Irish pastures.
. Pollutant levels in rainfall are similar to those found in unpolluted areas of Ireland and Europe.
"The most important finding to date is that cattle health and productive performance on the two trial farms in Askeaton are now normal," it states.
The chairman of the AskeatonBallysteen Animal Health Committee, Mr Donagh O'Grady, accused the EPA of "playing the fact that there has been significant reduction in the industrial emissions coinciding with a dramatic improvement in animal health".
The investigation may be equivalent to looking for a needle in a haystack, but veterinary samples were potentially the best means of finding the cause, said Mr Thompson of the IFA said.
His understanding that sampling was not as extensive as it might have been was vigorously denied by the EPA's Dr Toner.
On farm management, Mr Thompson said: "There are a hell of a lot of areas with worse management than the Askeaton area and they do not have these problems".
"We would still say that there is something worsening the situation for the [Askeaton] farmers."
