The Environmental Protection Agency has ruled out the possibility that some form of air pollution was responsible for a large number of unexplained cattle deaths on a farm near Leixlip, Co Kildare.
It also confirmed, following indications of above-normal levels of sulphur dioxide in the air in Leixlip, that a separate investigation has found no cause for concern about the levels of the pollutant.
Following the deaths of up to 30 animals, including 22 calves, on an outfarm in Leixlip belonging to Mr Liam Courtney, whose main farm is in Celbridge, an investigation was conducted by the EPA and Department of Agriculture. A new protocol, following animal health problems in Askeaton, Co Limerick, was deployed which allows for an extensive and prompt check on all possible causes of death.
Mr Courtney, regarded as a progressive farmer with a larger suckler herd, has claimed some form of air pollution was responsible. The problem was confined to the outfarm area.
The EPA director, Dr Padraic Larkin, said there was enough evidence to rule out the possibility of an environmental cause for the deaths of calves and weanlings.
As only a relatively small number of animals were affected by "advanced respiratory lesions", this suggested some other cause.
After Kildare County Council called in the EPA in response to indications of above-normal sulphur dioxide levels in Leixlip, the agency established there was an "analytical problem", Dr Larkin said. The agency's continuous monitoring equipment found low levels of the pollutant, and this was being confirmed with further checks yesterday.
The Department of Agriculture said that while it could not be confirmed, aspects of the condition affecting the animals "were strongly suggestive of a genetic-based immune dysfunction". This may have been linked to a specific bull used in the herd which had a chronic enteric condition and had to be put down in 1998.
Examination of air-emission data from large industrial plants in the area, notably Hewlett Packard and Intel, "provided no evidence to suggest that the area was likely to have been subject to emissions injurious to animal health", the Department added.
