Cows threat to air safety. Siberian Transport authorities are in a legal battle over a farm

Transport authorities are demanding the closure of a cow farm close to Tomsk airport amid fears that it poses a significant threat to airplanes safety.

Zavarzino cow farm with 390 animals is only two km from the Bogashevo airport, and has been there for a quarter of a century.

But reports from Taiga.Info news website say cattle food along with manure attracts birds to the farm which, in turn, represent a hazard to plans at the airport.

Transport prosecutors are taking legal action in an attempt to close the farm.

Russian safety rules say that farms and slaughter houses that might attract birds must be at least 15 km from airports.