The national heritage organisation, Dúchas is expected to complete a cull of wild deer and goats on the Cooley mountains this evening in ongoing measures to restrict the spread of foot-and-mouth.
Minister for Agriculture, Mr Joe Walsh said this evening that 23,727 sheep, 600 cattle, 69 goats and 15 deer have been slaughtered in the Louth exclusion zone to date.
He said containment measures were in full operation in Co Louth, but called on farmers in the Cooley region to offer their sheep for an additional voluntary cull.
The Minister said he strongly urged farmers to cooperate as the sheep were susceptible animals.
A spokesman said today that farmers could contact the Department to make arrangements for the slaughter of their animals irrespective of whether they had particular concerns about their animals.
Mr Walsh said: "Full compensation will be paid, but we are concerned because we have not yet found the cause of the original outbreak in Co Louth. We are worried that there might be some flock out in the Cooley mountains that is incubating this disease, and that there is a timebomb there."
He added: "what we have now is a negative result. It means we have to await the final outcome, but the preliminary one is good. It's also good news for the general economy."
Despite the relief generated by the Pirbright results, veterinary officials working in Co Louth were continuing to urge caution today as efforts continued to prevent the disease spreading.
Mr Michael Sheridan, the Department of Agriculture's deputy chief vet, warned: "we have past the first hurdle, but we are not out of the woods yet."
- Fine Gael has called for the establishment of a Government task force to assess the damage being caused by foot-and-mouth to the Irish tourism industry.
The Minister for Tourism Dr McDaid has promised a government aid package, but no details have yet been revealed.
Additional reporting - PA
