Over 2,000 animals were seized on farms by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) last year, mainly due to animal welfare issues.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 states that if an authorised officer has reasonable grounds for believing that a protected animal is injured or suffering, they can seize the animal and any dependent offspring of the animal.
The officer can also require the person in possession of the animal to obtain any necessary veterinary attention, or require the person to provide appropriate shelter, food and drinkable water.
Department figures obtained by Agriland show that 1,404 pigs were removed, 645 sheep, 246 cattle, 14 horses and eight donkeys.
Animals were seized from counties: Carlow; Clare; Donegal; Galway; Kilkenny; Leitrim; Meath; Monaghan; Roscommon; Sligo; and Waterford.
County Number of animals Reasons why Carlow 1,400 pigs Welfare/traceability Clare 2 horses Welfare Donegal 177 sheep
17 cattleInvestigation
Identification and traceability concerns/suspected stolenGalway 10 horses
8 donkeys
363 sheep
34 cattleAll in relation to welfare Kilkenny 37 cattle Welfare, identification/traceability Leitrim 94 Sheep
1 bovineWelfare
identification/traceabilityMeath 11 sheep Welfare Monaghan 17 cattle Welfare, identification and traceability Roscommon 2 horses Welfare Sligo 140 cattle Welfare Waterford 4 pigs Welfare
The figures mark a large increase from 961 animals from farms in 2022 and a total of 800 animals in 2021.
The animals seized in 2022 included: 355 cattle, 557 sheep, 19 goats, and 30 horses. According to DAFM at the time, these animals were removed to protect their health and welfare, or for identification, registration, and movement offences.
New initiatives are planned to better inform and coordinate the national approach to animal welfare, with a focus on increasing education in the area and an enhanced DAFM Animal Welfare Division to lead on the delivery of this strategy.