The Department of Agriculture has seized 1,503 cattle and 1,152 sheep between 2020 and 2025, new figures obtained by the Irish Farmers Journal show.

The livestock were seized as part of 36 enforcement operations carried out by the Department under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, where legal cases have concluded.

Of these 36 enforcement operations, 16 of them resulted in 87 cattle and five sheep being euthanised. The data does not include incidences where livestock were destroyed on foot of ongoing legal cases, such as the recent enforcement operation that was carried out on a Roscommon farm which saw dozens of dairy cows destroyed.

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A Department of Agriculture spokesperson outlined why livestock may be detained.

“The main reasons that led to cattle or sheep being detained was either that all necessary steps to ensure that the animals were being kept and treated in a manner that safeguarded their health and welfare were not being taken by their owners/keepers, or that the animals were being caused unnecessary suffering in the manner that they were being kept,” the spokesperson said.

The Irish Farmers Journal asked the Department what circumstances result in Department officials having to euthanise cattle rather than detaining/seizing them.

“Every herdowner has obligations and responsibilities under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and must ensure that the animals in their possession or under their control are kept and treated in a manner that safeguards and does not threaten their health and welfare,” a spokesperson said in response.

“This includes that animals are routinely inspected, that animals in need of care receive care as soon as possible, that animals are not subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering and that animals are provided with sufficient quantities of food and water to meet their needs,” they added.

Seizing animals from farms is ‘a last resort’

In general, the spokesperson said that the seizure of animals from their establishment of origin is undertaken as a last resort.

“The Department’s preference is to proactively engage with herd owners to try and resolve welfare related non-compliance matters in a voluntary manner or failing that, through the issuing of legal notices or formal direction under the Department’s authorised officer powers.

“In most instances where it is necessary to remove animals from their establishment of origin to safeguard their health and welfare, the animals can be safely loaded on site and removed, but there can be instances where this is not possible such as if the animals are unfit for transport,” they added.

A veterinary assessment is carried out to determine each individual animal’s fitness to transport.

“Animals which are severely welfare compromised and deemed to be unfit for transport are humanely euthanised on-site in line with the provisions of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013,” they said.