A SEARCH is under way on both sides of the Border for a lorry-load of TB-infected cattle which were stolen in Northern Ireland.
The cattle were taken from staff of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development during an operation on Monday afternoon.
The cattle were “reactor” animals, which were part of a routine collection when the theft took place, a department spokesman said. “Reactor” cattle are animals which have failed bovine TB tests on farms and are deemed to have or to be carriers of the disease.
The department spokesman said the matter had been reported to the PSNI and authorities in the Republic. Both the Garda and the Department of Agriculture were informed.
The PSNI said it was investigating the theft of the cattle from two locations in Co Armagh on Monday afternoon. “The animals were taken from a field at Crossnenagh Road in Keady, at about 1pm,” a PSNI spokeswoman said.
“A number of other animals were also taken from a vehicle parked at Castleblayney Road at about the same time.”
The Irish Timesunderstands a full trailer-load of animals, being transported in a double trailer to a designated meat plant which deals with "reactor" cattle, was stolen.
Because entry to one farm on the pick-up route was difficult for the cattle lorry to access, the trailer was detached from the lorry and left next to a main road.
It was then stolen during the loading operation and has not yet been recovered. Other animals from a nearby field were also taken.
The authorities here have warned meat plants to be on the look-out for the “reactor” animals.
There is concern that the animals, if sold to farmers individually, could find their way into herds and infect healthy animals.