Industrial pollution linked to livestock's problems

Research carried out by veterinary surgeons from University College Dublin on a farm in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, point to some…

Research carried out by veterinary surgeons from University College Dublin on a farm in Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny, point to some form of industrial pollution as the cause of a deficiency in selenium in the livestock on the farm.

The lack of selenium, a vital trace element, is the reason Dan Brennan's animals have suffered from stunted growth and other associated problems over a number of years.

The results of the veterinarians' research have confirmed that the cause of the problem has nothing to do with how the farm is being run.

Mr Brennan, who farms at Dromgoole, had been complaining for the past 16 years that his animals were suffering from stunted growth, and he blamed pollution.

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The president of the Irish Farmers' Association, Pádraig Walshe, said that the State agencies must move now to identify the source of the pollution and allow Mr Brennan to run his farm without these problems continuing into the future.

"The findings are in line with what I have seen on my visits to Dan Brennan's farm," Mr Walshe said. "He runs an excellent operation and this report shows that the problems he has been experiencing are caused by a lack of selenium. I have no doubt that there is a definite pollution source outside the farm causing the problem.

"The EPA and Department of Agriculture have manifestly failed Dan Brennan and I support any avenue that holds out the prospect of finding a solution."

Cllr Mary White, the deputy leader of the Green Party, who has campaigned on Mr Brennan's behalf, called on the Department of Agriculture to state publicly that lack of selenium caused the problems for the animals on the farm.

"The tests have revealed deficiencies outside Dan Brennan's control and the State must now act quickly to protect this man, his family and his farm business," she said.