Fire services in Tipperary responded to a blaze in an agricultural shed this week on land farmed by horse breeding business Coolmore.

The shed was used by the business for composting material used for horse bedding.

The fire broke out on Wednesday evening (September 2), with two fire fighting vehicles, plus a water tanker, attending the scene at around 8:20p.m, according to Tipperary County Council fire services.

Fire crews from Cashel and Cahir were involved in controlling the fire, which occurred on land in Castleblake, about 7km from Fethard and 10km from Coolmore Stud.

Firefighting operations were still underway as of yesterday morning (Thursday, September 3).

In a statement to Agriland, Coolmore said the shed was used for composting purposes, and that the fire occurred after the composting materials "overheated as part of the natural composting process".

"As the shed is substantially of concrete and steel construction there is little by way of incremental damage and a decision was made in collaboration with the fire service to allow the fire to burn-out naturally," the statement added.

According to the business, compost from horse bedding "tends to be much dryer and more liable to overheating".

Coolmore said that farm "is assessing options to mitigate that risk".

Coolmore

Separately, Coolmore said last month that it had initiated a disciplinary procedure after 14 of its cattle died the previous month, resulting from the drinking water supply for the animals being disconnected during intensely hot weather.

Coolmore said the incident on one of its farms was "immediately reported" to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) on July 28.

It is understood that the drinking water supply was cut off while the water trough was being cleaned, but was not reconnected.

An investigation was commenced by the business on foot of the incident.

In a statement last month, a spokesperson for Coolmore said: "Coolmore confirms the very regrettable deaths of 14 young cattle during an intense hot spell...the hottest July on record."