January 15, 2009
Irish farmers to destroy cattle following dioxin contamination in feed
Farmers in Northern Ireland must destroy 7,000 cattle and meat is being banned from supermarket shelves due to the recent cattle feed contamination with dioxins.
The estimated damage to the farming business is up to US$7.2 million which will put a lot of farmers out of business.
Ulster Farmers' Union president, Graham Furey said the farmers were waiting on results from tests carried out by the FSA.
Farmers have been feeding their cattle over the last few weeks, unsure if the meat will be able to enter the food chain.
Furey said the main concern now is the question of compensation for farmers if their animals have to be put down.
