Export of Irish cattle to Britain stopped

The export of Irish cattle to Britain has ceased following the discovery that cattle at Birkenhead port in England were suffering from foot-and-mouth disease. The cattle were sent by boat from Dublin, having initially been kept in the Newry district in Co. Down. Pigs exported from Waterford are also understood to be suffering from the disease. Hopes that the initial outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease had been contained in Co. Kildare have now been dashed and the export trade to Britain will not resume until investigations by the Department of Agriculture are completed.