Caroline Rowley of Compassion in World Farming said an investigation it carried out in conjunction with European animal welfare groups had established that cattle exported to the Czech Republic in late June had been shipped overland to Turkey in conditions where temperatures had reached 38C. The cattle were transported by road through Bulgaria.

Cattle exports from Ireland to countries such as Turkey and Libya are banned in July and August under EU rules that prohibit the transport of livestock in temperatures above 30C. The Department of Agriculture