The Department of Agriculture has seized over 1,500 cattle and sheep from farms on animal welfare grounds this year.

Department officers have the power to seize animals if they have reasonable grounds to believe they are injured, suffering or are being kept in conditions that breach welfare standards.

The Irish Farmers Journal can reveal that 708 cattle were seized in total this year.

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Galway had the largest number of bovines taken off-farm by the Department at 179. Last year, numbers seized from Galway farms were similar at 182.

The next-highest county on the list was Roscommon with 113.

Clare had 96 cattle seized this year also.

Last year, 1,272 cattle were seized on welfare and traceability grounds by the Department.

Reasons

The main reasons for seizure this year, according to the Department, relate to animal welfare and non-compliance.

There were 11 cattle seized on traceability grounds this year in Donegal.

There were a total of 838 sheep seized from farms this year, with the highest number in Galway also.

Farmers in the county had 538 sheep seized this year on animal welfare and non-compliance grounds.

There were another 300 sheep seized in Laois, also for animal welfare reasons.

The Department operates a confidential helpline and email address for the public to report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation by emailing animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie or calling 01-607 2000.