The number of reactors showing up in this year’s cattle TB tests has increased to almost 22,000, meaning that total reactor figures could exceed that figure by the end of the year.This represents a rise of around 5% in the reactors reported to the Department of Agriculture on last year’s 20,931, when figures fell for the first time in five years.
The number of reactors showing up in this year’s cattle TB tests has increased to almost 22,000, meaning that total reactor figures could exceed that figure by the end of the year.
This represents a rise of around 5% in the reactors reported to the Department of Agriculture on last year’s 20,931, when figures fell for the first time in five years.
The Department’s deputy chief veterinary officer June Fanning gave the TB update to TDs and senators sitting in the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture last Wednesday.
Locked up
The number of herds locked up has dropped to around 4,400, meaning that fewer herds are going down, but there are more cattle reacting in these herds.
“We have however seen a positive reduction in herds entering restrictions in the last two years,” the official told the committee.
“However, the figure on reactors has increased - not so positive - with just under 22,000 being disclosed so far this year.
“Data analysis suggests the reasons underpinning current levels of TB incidence are the expansion of the dairy herd and the resulting increased levels of intensive cattle farming and the increased movement of cattle.”
Holding off new rules
Fanning suggested that the “building blocks” are in place to implement new measures that would help in lowering the incidence of TB in cattle, but that farming sector stakeholders were not prepared to sign up to them.
Discussions with these farmer groups have made clear which measures these groups find “acceptable” to impose in the 2023-2025 leg of the Department’s €1bn 10-year TB eradication strategy.
“While more progressive measures, such as informed purchasing, risk-based trading and increased restrictions on high-risk herds and animals, would be expected to lead to a sharper reduction in TB, these do not currently have stakeholder support,” the civil servant claimed.
Tightening these rules could leave “less farm families having to endure the challenges associated with TB restriction”, she stated.
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Mid-year TB reactor numbers show downward trend on 2021
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