Local farms being targeted as almost one fifth of cattle stolen in Ireland are from Kildare

Almost one fifth of the cattle stolen across the country last year were taken from farms around Kildare, though the numbers of animals stolen from farms did drop significantly last year in comparison to the previous year.

A total of 125 cattle were stolen from farms in the Republic of Ireland last year, some 40% lower than the figure of 209 in 2015, though that figure was greatly inflated due to one instance in Westmeath when 75 cattle and 25 sheep were taken from a farm between Kilbeggan and Tyrrellspass.

27 cattle were reportedly stolen from Kildare last year, while Monaghan had the highest figure of 41. The only other county to report more thefts was Monaghan, who made up 41 of the figure of 125.

There were no reported cattle thefts from counties Carlow, Longford, Cavan, Leitrim and Tipperary over the two-year period that the Department of Agriculture examined.

There has been a total of 14 cattle thefts so far this year, though the details of where they've occurred has not been released.