Cows and sheep 'down and out' after downpours in southwest

Recent bad weather in the southwest has created animal welfare issues, with cattle and sheep feeling “down and out” and depressed, a Co Kerry mart manager has said.

Dan McCarthy, an Independent councillor in charge of the weekly Kenmare mart, also said damage caused to the county’s road network by the elements was adding to the woes of the animals when they were being transported.

He said Co Kerry experienced its wettest December since 1934.

Kerry had 339mm of rain in December, compared with 135mm in the same month in 2014, according to figures from the Valentia Observatory. The county had just 20 hours of sunshine and winds were stronger than normal.

To make matters worse, Mr McCarthy said roads were in such a poor state that they were barely passable and animals in trailers on their way to the mart were being rocked around by the potholes, further adding to their discomfort.

“The cattle inside in trailers are getting dizzy from going from side to side over the potholes,” he said, adding that they were anxious to move on from the bad weather and the sheep were “down and out . . . depressed”.