Gardai and the Department of Agriculture are investigating the origin of almost 70 unidentified cattle in Co Tipperary, following the discovery of six more stray animals near Roscrea.
Supt Jim Mulligan confirmed that gardai received a report about the six animals, described as young calves, on Thursday evening. He appealed for anyone with relevant information to contact gardai.
Meanwhile, a Department of Agriculture spokesman confirmed that the six calves were slaughtered at Glynn's abattoir in Patrick's Well, Co Limerick, yesterday. Blood samples were taken from the animals for routine analysis at Abbotstown, and results are expected next week.
This brings the number of cattle discovered throughout Tipperary without proper identification tags to almost 70 in the past month.
In north Tipperary the origin of 12 animals found wandering near Roscrea last Sunday, a herd of 13 unidentified cattle at Leugh, outside Thurles, and a herd of 12 at Barnane, close to Templemore, is being investigated.
Similarly, further south in Tipperary, investigations are continuing into the origin of 13 cattle found wandering in the Glen of Aherlow, and 13 more, of which 12 were dead, near Mullinahone earlier this month.
The latest incident comes after a similar incident late last Sunday night when 12 "sturdy calves" or "weanlings" were found on the loose at Clonakenny, between Roscrea and Templemore.