Five new cases of BSE were disclosed this week by the Department of Agriculture, bringing to 110 the number of cases so far this year. This compares favourably with the 161 cases which were identified at this stage last year and the 293 cases in the corresponding period in 2002.
None of the infected animals was born after the meat-and-bonemeal controls became fully effective at the beginning of 1998.
The youngest animal found was a seven-year-old cow from a dairy herd in Westmeath. Another was an eight-year-old cow from a dairy herd in Cavan and there was a nine-year-old cow from a dairy herd in Co Cork.
The remaining two cases were identified in 10-year-old animals in dairy herds in Co Wicklow and Co Kerry, a Department statement said.
The five cases were all identified off farm in the active surveillance programme which tests a proportion of fallen stock and cattle destined for human consumption in meat plants.
Since the scheme was first introduced in July 2000 and extended to all cattle over 30 months old for human consumption in January 2001, more than two million tests have been carried out up to the end of last year.
Figures released by the Department yesterday showed that since the beginning of this year more than 435,000 tests were carried out from January to the end of September 2004.
The Department reiterated the statement by the EU Scientific Steering Committee of May 2000 that, following its examination of Irish BSE controls, it found they were "stable from 1996 onward, very stable from 1997 onward and optimally stable since January 1st, 1998".