GRAPHIC: Concerns raised about conditions on south Tipperary farm

Gardaí in Tipperary are liaising with the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine following a serious complaint about conditions on a farm in the Fethard area.

The complaint made by a member of the public involved a herd of calves.

Gardaí confirmed to the Tipperary Star that they are aware of the matter reported on Sunday, March 24.

“An Garda Síochána is aware of the matters outlined in your email below and are liaising with the relevant authorities.

“The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the lead agency in regards to this matter,” said a garda spokesperson.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said they do not comment on individual matters, which “may be under investigation.”

DEAD ANIMALS

An anonymous source from the area told the Tipperary Star they witnessed a herd of calves living in appalling conditions, surrounded by remains of dead animals and with little to no access to food and water.

“They seem to have dead animals thrown in every place,” said the source.

The conditions were discovered when a number of animals escaped the farm last Sunday, March 24, 2024.

When the source returned the animals to the farm, they saw 20-25 calves who were nervous and “did not look healthy.”

The source said they saw food delivered a week before, and while there was water, it was clear the calves were too small to reach it.

When we spoke to the source a second time a few days later, they said they did not believe the animals had been fed since.

PICTURES

A number of the pictures viewed by the Tipperary Star show the body of a young animal covered in mud in an outbuilding or barn.

The animal’s ear tag and number are visible.

The source told us, and it appears to be the case, that the animal was in active decomposition and had been for at least a week, but perhaps a bit longer.

Live animals could be seen walking around the body.

Other photos showed what looked like pieces of the skeleton of unidentified animals, some in a pile of rubbish and burned tyres.

In one of the buildings, there appear to be ribs and spine.

Another picture shows a decomposing leg in an outbuilding.

The source said they were unable to get close to the live animals as they were very nervous and fled when approached.

Some of the photos show the animals moving away as their picture is taken.

NEXT

The source told the paper that they contacted the gardaí that day.

They said following that call, a Department of Agriculture vet visited the site and spoke to him.

The vet would not accept the photos.

The source told this paper that he felt that the situation was not taken seriously, and it was his understanding the farmer would keep the animals.

He said the vet told him the animals were free from disease and had received a clear annual TB test.

The vet had seen the body shown in the pictures and said it would be removed. However, the source told this paper, they did not think that was true.

They said that when an animal dies, the death must be registered and the animal disposed of by a professional service.

As there was a large number of remains on the farm, those animals would be unaccounted for.

Tests would not have been carried out until all animals were registered and certificates issued.

They said they are speaking with the Tipperary Star under the condition of anonymity to ensure action is taken to protect the animals.