Vol. 474 No. 6
250 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the position in relation to an inquiry or examination, if any, of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, who lost a large number of cattle during the past 18 months due to some unknown reason, in view of the fact that there have not been similar deaths in cattle in any herd in the vicinity of his farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3690/97]
This particular case has been the subject of extensive contacts between the farmer in question and my Department and has been assessed from a number of different perspectives. No common cause of the animal health difficulties being experienced on the farm has to date been identified. My Department has now offered to undertake a programme, to be carried out by its veterinary laboratory service (VLS), under which it will periodically test livestock on the farm at regular intervals; in addition, it will undertake free of charge to the farmer in question, pathological testing at the Regional Veterinary Laboratory in Cork of material from the farm which may be submitted by the farmer or his veterinary surgeon. Consideration of any more extensive investigation would be contingent on the completion by the farmer in question of certain farm improvements which have been indicated as necessary by a study jointly carried out by the VLS and Teagasc in 1996 and which have been advised to him. It is considered that the results of any such investigation would be prejudiced and its scientific worth devalued if such works are not first carried out.
