FIVE cattle smothered to death on the car deck of a ferry on its way to Le Havre from Rosslare a fortnight ago, it was learned last night.
According to a statement from Compassion in World Farming the animal welfare organisation the animals, part of a consignment of 46, died due to a lack of ventilation on the vessel. It said it had been unable to confirm the report that six cattle died on the 18 hour journey because officials from the Department of Agriculture could not be contacted.
But, said Ms Mary Ann Bartlett of CIWF, the source of the report was the same one which provided information about the deaths of 51 pigs last year on a ferry between Ireland and Wales.
She said that the deaths had happened on the overnight sailing on September 29th-30th last and she demanded an urgent inquiry into the incident and publication of a report on the welfare of animals travelling to the continent compiled by the Department.
"We are demanding not only an end to the live trade but we are demanding that the Department release mortality statistics for the live animal export trade between Ireland and the continent," she said.
While veterinary officials from the Department could not be contacted last night, a spokesman for the Department said it was investigating the deaths of five animals on a ferry from Ireland to France on the date in question.
He said the deaths had been reported to the Department as required by law and his understanding was that there were no breaches of the strict new welfare regulations. Industry sources said the animals suffocated when ventilation fans on the car deck broke down during the voyage.