Apr 20 2008
Rustling fears for ancient goat herds
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They are one of County Clare’s oldest residents but there are fears that the feral goats of the Burren are under threat from rustling. In the latest incident 50 animals were removed early on Saturday, and campaigners believe they are most likely destined for the meat trade.
Goats have a close association with the Burren, and it is thought that they were first introduced by Neolithic farmers 4,000 years ago. |
Many of the animals loose on the Burren are more recent additions, imported dairy stock abandoned by their owners in the 1970s during changes in farming practice.The wild population exploded causing problems for farmers by damaging boundaries and spoiling pastures.
There was a clearance of 5,000 animals six years ago to address the problem, but there have been recent instances of more animals being taken.
Within the goats on the Burren campaigners say there are a number with distinct native characteristics and they want them to be protected.
| There is the impression that in areas where the goats have been removed there is growing scrub invasion Colin Johnson Old Irish Goat Society |
Colin Johnson of the Old Irish Goat Society said that the native type tended to be smaller, wirier and not white, like the imported Swiss strain.
He said that a combination of cross-breeding with the non-native goats and removals was causing them concern for the future of the indigenous animals.
Since the animals are feral their protection is a grey area, and farmers are allowed to dispose of any of the animals they find on their land.
Mr Johnson said that they have a herd of 30 ‘old Irish’ goats enclosed on 22 acres, but no other herds in the region had protection.
He said they wanted anyone seeking to remove the goats to have to apply for a licence, so that conservation issues could be addressed.
Mr Johnson said the goats formed part of the character of the area and their presence may also have some ecological benefits as eaters of scrub and whitethorn.
“There is the impression that in areas where the goats have been removed there is growing scrub invasion,” he said.
He said it was hard to determine the final fate of the goats taken from the Burren, but that anecdotal reports indicated they were being sold to ethnic butchers in the UK and also ending up as rugs or the skins of the popular Irish drum, the bodhrán.
Gardai in the county have said that they are investigating the latest removal.
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