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Efforts to eradicate TB in cattle must target both wildlife and cattle, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said.
Along with the British Veterinary Association (BVA), both have argued that to truly eradicate TB “action must be taken to control the disease in wildlife as well as cattle”.
In 2017, 21% of TB breakdowns in Northern Irish herds were attributed to badgers while approximately one in five badgers in Northern Ireland are estimated to be infected with TB.
Dire experience
Speaking on the issue, UFU deputy president David Browne said: “For over 60 years, TB has plagued the countryside. Any farmer who has had the misfortune of having TB in their herd can tell you, it is a dire experience.
“It can take months, sometimes years, to get rid of the disease. We want to see a comprehensive solution that delivers results and is cost-effective.”
He said that it was well-known the disease could move from badger to cow, from cow to cow and from cow to badger.
He said that failure to tackle wildlife sources of infection was prolonging the presence of the disease.
“TB will not be eradicated in Northern Ireland unless there is a combined approach that delivers meaningful action to tackle TB in wildlife alongside controls in cattle,” he stated.
Costly
Continuing, Brown said that while vaccinating badgers against TB was one option and the UFU supported the Test, Vaccinate, Remove (TVR) programme, it was costly and there had been no evidence showing a reduction in TB in cattle as a result.
He said: “Farmers are pragmatic. We want to see a robust wildlife policy that is cost-effective. TB has already cost taxpayers and farmers too much.”
He concluded by saying farmers wanted to see an all-encompassing plan that was evidence-based, robust and delivered results.
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