Livestock farmers in Wicklow are waiting to hear what level of TB infection exists among deer roaming their farms. The Department of Agriculture conducted a pilot study last winter. In the spirit of practicality, it seconded one of its own officials from his desk job and sent him up to the Calary area of east Wicklow – with his sporting rifle – to spot and shoot some deer, under licence.

The Department official – a fan of country sports – shot 103 deer and had them sent to regional labs for testing.

Testing carried out last spring found that a shocking 15% of the deer were infected. This compares with the national average for cattle at about 0.2%. The Department then decided to carry out a second round of tests.

Local farmers suspect that it did so hoping that the infection rate would be lower and that this would dilute the first figures. The second round was carried out on higher land over last March and April and saw 30 deer shot and sent for testing.

That was six months ago and despite raising queries, IFA Animal Health chair Bart Stewart has not gotten the results. However, local Wicklow farmers have been told by local Department officials that 24% of the second batch of deer were TB infected. The Dealer asked the Department for the figure this week but hasn’t heard a dicky bird back.