A local family fear that they will be “blamed” unfairly if a suspected case of mad cow disease is confirmed on their dairy farm near Louth Village.
Department of Agriculture chiefs revealed yesterday that a five-year-old cow died on a farm in Co Louth but it did not enter the food chain and was not sent to a slaughter house.
Tests on the carcass to determine whether there is any trace of the disease will take place over the next week. If confirmed, it could potentially hit big international beef deals secured in the last year.
Colm McArdle, brother of Joseph McArdle whose farm full of Rotbunt cows was quarantined yesterday, insisted it was a “reputable” farm.
He told the Irish Daily Mail that he was worried that “we’ll get the blame”.
Locals rallied to support the McArdles though.
One resident said: “They would be the epitomy of honest. You could almost call them master farmers.
“You could stake your life on them. They are impeccably honest.”
The animal is believed to be the first to have been killed by BSE since 2013.
Tests are to be carried out on the cow’s calves, its parents and any other cattle exposed to the same feed.
Reports on BSE cases show there was one in 2013, three in 2012 and 2011, two in 2010, nine in 2009 and 23 in 2008.
