Green Party Deputy Leader Cllr. Mary White has welcomed initial findings carried out by veterinary surgeons attached to University College Dublin that have shown beyond doubt that the reason for Dan Brennan’s farm at Drumgoole, Castlecomer has nothing to do with the way the farm is run

Cllr. White said

“For many years the Kilkenny Veterinary Laboratory were investigating the problems on the Brennan farm. They did not come up with cause of the problem. A successful petition to the European Parliament I believe prompted the Minster to initiate a second investigation. After a three weeks a very significant breakthrough has been discovered. I believe it was an absolute disgrace that Dan Brennan has had to wait 16 years for any significant breakthrough to discover the cause of ill thrift stunted growth and low milk yields. Too many people came up with too many wrong diagnoses. I believe the initial investigation was shallow and narrowly scoped. Now we know that the animals are severely depleted in selenium. Obviously this is not the complete picture but it is a very significant lead It is well known in veterinary circles that sulphur depletes selenium. From informed sources it appears that selenium deficiency is extremely rare and “is likely to arise from an outside agency like a sulphur based by product from industrial process”

I am calling on the agencies involved to conclude their studies as speedily as possible and to ascertain whether the trees on the Brennan farm which suffer from die back, in particular, native species like holly, ash and whitethorn are linked to a selenium deficiency? For the wider local community who have expressed concerns that if the cattle are stunted and not thriving in the local area could this have a knock on effect on public health?

EDITORS NOTE

Seleniumis a chemical element which forms the active centre of certain enzymes necessary for the function of all cells in all animals.

Filed under: Mary White TD