Emergency controls on cattle imports

Emergency bluetongue controls have been placed on imports of cattle and sheep from outside the island of Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Executive announced last night that the controls would run from 6pm this Saturday until March 6 to protect animal health and welfare, following the discovery of the killer livestock disease in a dairy cow imported from the Netherlands.

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew signed a declaration suspending imports of female cattle over 12 months old and female sheep over six months old from bluetongue-restricted zones.