There has been a 25% increase in the number fallen sheep this year, an animal collector in the west of Ireland has said.

Fluke has been the main cause of death in sheep this year, according to this knackery operator, who covers large parts of Sligo and Mayo as well as parts of Donegal, Leitrim and Galway.

“There was an awful lot of sheep this year, it’s been a horrid year for fluke. There was an awful lot of fluke in sheep because of the weather.

"It’s been raining in these parts since last August. Sheep don’t get much of a chance because they’re out nearly all year round - they only come in for lambing,” he said.

Lambing time this year was when the biggest spike in fallen animals occurred. Some farmers, he said, had three or four sheep die from fluke.

Blackleg

On Monday, the Department of Agriculture announced a sharp increase in the prevalence of blackleg (Clostridium chauvoei) in cattle referred to its regional veterinary laboratories for post mortem.

Some of these large outbreaks on farms throughout the country came from holdings with no prior history of the disease.

Knackeries in the west have also noticed significant increases in fallen animals due to blackleg this year.

Farmers who wouldn't have had blackleg in 20 years are now seeing it making a comeback, an animal collector based in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo, said.

It has been particularly common in this year's calves, but in some year-and-a-half-old calves also, he explained.

"It's in the soil - that's what they're telling me. It can be dormant for years and then it can come alive.”