961 animals removed from Irish farms in 2022

The Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) removed 961 animals from farms in 2022, an increase from 800 animals in 2021.

The animals seized included: 355 cattle, 557 sheep, 19 goats, and 30 horses.

According to DAFM, these animals were removed to protect their health and welfare, or for identification, registration, and movement offences.

They were taken from counties: Carlow; Donegal; Galway; Kilkenny; Leitrim; Limerick; Mayo; Meath; Monaghan; Offaly; Sligo; Wexford; and Westmeath.

In 2021, animals were removed from farms on 22 occasions, from counties: Cork; Donegal; Galway; Kilkenny; Limerick; Longford; Monaghan; and Tipperary.

The animal species included 503 cattle, 289 sheep, and eight horses.

The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 states that if an authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a protected animal is injured or suffering, they can seize the animal and any dependent offspring of the animal.

The officer can also require the person in possession of the animal to obtain any necessary veterinary attention, or require the person to provide appropriate shelter, food and drinkable water.