According to a new Government report, around 98 per cent of the national herd was tested for bovine tuberculosis last year.
Tuberculosis is at its highest level since 2009, with herd incidence of TB increasing to 4.38 per cent in 2020 from 3.72 per cent in 2019.
Department of Agriculture Food and Marine (DAFM) said that trends in reactor numbers and herd incidence show a greater focus is needed on the TB eradication programme.
Throughout 2020, there has been a relatively high level of tuberculosis in the northeast of Ireland.
The annual report by DAFM revealed the number of reactors detected was 22,604 in 2020 compared to 17,058 in 2019.
Rates of bovine TB have continued to rise in 2021, with almost 22,000 TB reactors identified in the second quarter of this year.
According to DAFM, the removal of badgers in areas around a farm where epidemiological investigation indicates a badger source, will remove the risk associated with confirmed breakdowns.
Last year, 3,004 badgers were vaccinated in the vaccination zone and 4,723 badgers were removed in the removal capture blocks.
LSL News.
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