The carcases of 60 cattle detained at a meat plant by Department of Agriculture officials have been released for secondary processing.

The cattle were presented for slaughter but detained when they did not satisfy routine pre-slaughter checks at the factory.

The Department’s investigations unit was called in and the cattle were ordered to be slaughtered the following day but the carcases detained in cold storage pending the outcome of further investigations.

The carcases were released for further processing on Monday of this week.

They were being slaughtered on contract by the meat plant for export to Northern Ireland.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said it does not comment on specific cases.

“Decisions on food chain eligibility are made primarily on the basis of food safety, including ante- and post-mortem examination, in addition to other relevant issues including identification and traceability.

“Food safety and food chain eligibility assessment are part of the routine checks carried out under EU legislation,” the spokesperson said.

The meat plant where the cattle were slaughtered told the Irish Farmers Journal that it had co-operated fully with the Department’s investigation.