Department of Agriculture officials were yesterday preparing for the slaughter of 1,300 sheep and more than 100 cattle on a Co Wexford farm as a precaution against foot-and-mouth disease.
Tests on the Walsh brothers' farm at Ballyvadden, near Kilmuckridge, have indicated that the disease is not present. The animals must be killed, however, under an EU directive issued on Tuesday requiring the slaughter of all livestock imported from Britain since February 1st.
Mr Mervyn Walsh said the family imported 821 sheep from Kent on February 2nd.
A Department spokesman said 10 staff were present on the farm yesterday overseeing the arrangements for the slaughter today. Seven 40ft trucks will be used to transport the carcasses from the farm for rendering.
He said the animals would be humanely slaughtered and removed from the farm between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Veterinary inspectors from the Department visited the farm on Thursday last week after the outbreak of foot-and-mouth in Britain.
Mr Walsh says he does not know when he will be able to resume farming, but is hopeful the six-month restriction applying in cases of confirmed foot-and-mouth cases will not apply to him.
More than 1,000 sheep on two farms in western France owned by the Walsh brothers are also to be slaughtered. The family runs a livestock exporting company, Dublin Beef and Lamb, which employs three full-time drivers.
