A number of cattle have been euthanised on a farm in the west of Ireland.

The cattle were destroyed on animal welfare grounds by order of the Department of Agriculture on Thursday.

Videos circulating widely on social media purport to show cattle lined up in a crush before being euthanised and dead animals in a pen with live animals.

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The footage also shows a tractor moving a carcase across a pen and carcases being loaded into a knackery lorry.

It is not clear how many cattle were euthanised or how they were euthanised.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed to the Irish Farmers Journal that it carried out an "enforcement operation" on Thursday with support and assistance from An Garda Síochána.

"The Department does not comment regarding individual cases.

"The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has lead policy responsibility for animal welfare and takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously.

'Vigorously applied'

"Neglect of or causing unnecessary suffering to animals is not acceptable in our society. The Department is committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner," a Department spokesperson said.

They added that the Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation.

"The dedicated email address and helpline in place for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare are helpline phone number 01 607 2379 or email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie."