A number of calves believed to have been smuggled into the State from Northern Ireland were slaughtered and the carcasses destroyed by Department of Agriculture and Food officials yesterday.
The young animals were found wandering on a road near Ballybofey, Co Donegal, not far from the Border, late on Wednesday.
Locals contacted Donegal County Council, and the calves were collected and taken to an animal pound for examination.
The council alerted the department as the calves did not have any identification tags, and it in turn contacted a local veterinary practice. A department spokesman confirmed the animals had been impounded and destroyed under veterinary supervision. He said he had no evidence the animals were smuggled into the State, but as they were unidentified they had to be destroyed.
Farming sources indicated there has been an upsurge in smuggling calves this summer, fuelled by lower prices in the North. In Britain, farmers are shooting bull calves which have little potential as beef animals, and this is impacting on Northern Ireland prices. In the Republic, all calves are tagged from birth, but some smugglers register twin births to have their illegal animals registered.