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Dead livestock 'had been starved' Dead livestock 'had been starved'
(10 minutes later)
Twenty-two cattle have been found dead on a County Armagh farm, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has said. Twenty-two cattle have been found dead on a County Armagh farm, the Department of Agriculture has said.
Two other animals had to be put down on the farm following what Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew described as a horrific incident. Two other animals had to be put down on the farm near Darkley following what Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew described as a horrific incident.
Department vets made the horrific discovery in farm buildings on Monday. In a separate incident, four dead thoroughbred horses were found on a farm near Gilford, also County Armagh.
A separate incident was reported by the USPCA at the weekend in the Hillsborough area. Two others had to be put down by USPCA officers. They are removing 13 other horses from the farm.
In the Darkley incident, Department vets made the horrific discovery in farm buildings on Monday.
Ms Gildernew described the latest incident as "a dreadful case which obviously involved much suffering by a large number of animals".Ms Gildernew described the latest incident as "a dreadful case which obviously involved much suffering by a large number of animals".
"A full investigation will be carried out and all possible help and treatment will be offered to the surviving cattle," she said."A full investigation will be carried out and all possible help and treatment will be offered to the surviving cattle," she said.
"The vets found 18 dead cattle in one building. The carcases were emaciated and no feed or water appeared to be available. It appears the animals died from starvation and water deprivation."The vets found 18 dead cattle in one building. The carcases were emaciated and no feed or water appeared to be available. It appears the animals died from starvation and water deprivation.
"In another house four young cattle were found dead and one animal had to be destroyed.""In another house four young cattle were found dead and one animal had to be destroyed."
The minister said more cattle were found in poor condition in a field and one of them had to be put down.The minister said more cattle were found in poor condition in a field and one of them had to be put down.
"Immediate actions have been taken to secure feed and water for the animals left alive," she said."Immediate actions have been taken to secure feed and water for the animals left alive," she said.