Irish government officials say tests have confirmed illegally high levels of dioxin chemicals in cattle that ate the same oil-tainted food that has already devastated Ireland's pork industry.

The government scheduled a news conference Tuesday to confirm the positive dioxin findings in 38 cattle farms.

Officials from the government's health and agriculture departments say the levels of cancer-causing dioxins found in cattle are much lower than the levels detected last week in pigs. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the public announcement had not yet been made.

The latest finding appears certain to undermine Ireland's annual euro1.5 billion ($2 billion) industry in beef, Ireland's primary agricultural export.