Up to nine dead calves dumped in field in Mid Ulster

The environment committee heard that dead livestock was still being dumped along roadsides, streams and in wooded areas at various locations in the district.

Members were told that landowners are having to burden the cost of having carcasses removed and safely disposed off.

Sinn Féin councillor Mickey Gillespie argued that it was a problem which has affected a lot of people living in rural areas of the district.

He said there must be something they as a council, can do to help tackle the problem and bring it to an end.

Councillor Gillespie suggested that fallen animals be blood tested and records of DARD be used to trace them back to their owners.

DUP Councillor Frances Burton described it as “a nightmare” for people who have had dead animals dumped on their land.

She related one case where eight or nine calves had been thrown into a field and it cost the owner £150 to get them taken away.

Councillor Burton said it was a horrible situation for a land owner to deal with, especially as she understood the animals were in a decaying state and near a stream.

A council official said he would write on behalf of the committee to DARD raising the point about using blood tests to trace animal ownership.

He was of the opinion that the department would have access to all the relevant data and may be able to facilitate the council.

Last year the committee adopted a number of recommendations relating to illegally dumped animal carcasses, including that all complaints regarding them be referred to DARD for investigation and action; complaints referred to NIEA where there is evidence of dumping in contravention of the Waste and Contaminated Land Registration, and disposal by council if there is a potential health nuisance or on council owned land and where the person responsible cannot be identified.