SHEEP farmers across Co
Donegal are counting the cost of record rainfalls
and flooding that saw livestock washed away and
drowned last month.
Farmers have reported the loss of some animals due
to high tides and rivers bursting their banks. In
one incident, eight lambs were swept away and
drowned.
Meanwhile, there have been incidences of livestock
washed up on the shores of Lough Swilly and Lough
Foyle in recent weeks. Malin Head weather station
last month recorded double the average rainfall for
December.
Donegal IFA sheep sector chairman, Seamus Quinn,
said he was aware of several incidents of livestock
drowning but that the scale of the problem was
likely worse than reported.
"About five weeks ago there was very bad torrential
rain right across the county. Floods came right up
the fields and pinned sheep against the ditch and
they had nowhere to go," said Mr Quinn.
He said sustained wet weather had forced farmers in
the North West to house lowland sheep a month
earlier than usual.
"The recent rainfall was the worst I've seen in my
lifetime. I wouldn't normally house my own sheep
flock until the end of January but some of them have
been inside now for about three weeks. This was
purely down to the severe, wet conditions. We had to
bring them off the land and inside for feeding,”
added Laghey-based Mr Quinn.
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA)
also received reports of sheep losses due to heavier
than average rainfalls in the North West.
ICSA spokesman, Patrick Donohue, said that, in once
incident last month, eight lambs were washed away
and drowned near Ballintra while a farmer in
Ramelton had to move some 400 sheep to safety. |
