A battle is under way between the Department of Agriculture and farmers about tough new controls on cattle farmers to eradicate TB.

Scoring herds on TB risk is necessary to clear the disease by 2030, the Department claims.

It was backed this week by Prof Simon More of UCD who warned that with current controls, along with badger vaccination, it could take a further 90 years to eradicate the disease.

A system whereby high-risk herds can only trade cattle with other high-risk herds is also needed, he said.

But farmers will continue to oppose this approach at the TB Forum, which is aiming to agree a new programme in the coming months.

Most new breakdowns arise from infection remaining in a herd from a previous breakdown and from wildlife, not from buying in cattle, IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell said.

“Identifying herds as high risk would devalue cattle – benefiting opportunistic buyers and further weakening the hands of cattle farmers.”