BSE hits Irish research station

13 August 1997

BSE hits Irish research station

A LEADING dairy research station in County Cork, Ireland, has fallen victim to BSE.

Moorepark station is to lose its 550 cattle after the disease was found in a four-year-old cow. Now the herd will have to be destroyed in accordance with Irish government policy.

The station carries out research into producing milk from high-yielding cows, fed on mainly grass diets. The news comes as Ireland is struggling to re-open export markets in Libya, Iran and Iraq for its beef.

BSE is declining in Ireland, with 41 cases to the end of July. Numbers are said to be falling each month. Ireland has had 229 cases since 1989 – the second highest in the European Union after the UK. The station will be allowed to restock one month after the herd is destroyed.