A new roadmap setting out the Government’s strategy to tackle bovine TB has been published by the Department of Agriculture.
The report hopes to build on the progress made to date, drive the disease levels down and eradicate bovine TB by 2030.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, said despite bovine TB levels being substantially lowered since he programme began in 1954 progress has stalled in recent years.
“In 2020, provisional data indicated that 4.37% of Irish cattle herds had a bovine TB breakdown, meaning 4,632 farmers and their families had to go through the stress, uncertainty, restrictions on trade and financial difficulties of a herd restriction,” he said.
“Rising levels of bovine TB also pose a threat to our trade access, with our trading partners regularly seeking assurances that our programme is effective. Ireland is now the EU Member State with the highest bovine TB levels. Following Brexit, Ireland will be the only Member State with a continuing significant bovine TB challenge,” Mr McConalogue added.
Incoming EU Animal Health Law coming into effect from April 2021, will bring tough new TB testing measures. The new laws will require that all cattle moving out of a herd undergo pre or post movement testing unless both the animal and the herd of origin were TB tested in the preceding six months.
The report revealed also acknowledged that with an ongoing reduction in EU co-funding for the programme it would raise more challenges for farmers and the Irish taxpayer. The programme in 2020 cost close to €100 million and overall direct spending is predicted to be €1 billion in the period to 2030 unless significant reductions in the disease can be achieved.
Interaction between wildlife and cattle is considered to be significantly responsible for transmission of the disease. Preventative measures will focus on removing or vaccinating badgers and deer along with improving biosecurity.
LSL News.