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In order to deal with the scourge of TB in deer in Co Wicklow, the Department of Agriculture is in discussions with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts and Heritage, to form a steering group comprising representatives from the Department of Agriculture, the NPWS and the Wicklow Deer Management Partnership (WDMP).
In a statement to the Irish Farmers Journal, the Department said the new steering group “will examine means to reduce deer density in the Calary area of Co Wicklow”. It also said the WDMP, comprised of farmers, hunters, private foresters, the NPWS and Coillte, has been asked to nominate candidates to the steering group for the role of coordinating this project.
It added that a proposal to “investigate the level of TB in deer in the greater Wicklow area is also under consideration”. The Irish Farmers Journal understands this investigation will target around 1,500 deer.
Pilot survey
In May 2015, the Department of Agriculture published the results of a pilot survey carried out in the Calary area of Co Wicklow. The study revealed that 16% of deer in the area were found to be carrying TB.
Farmers have had real concerns in relation to the role wild deer encroaching on to their land is having in prolonging TB episodes
Reacting to the survey at the time, Wicklow IFA chair Tom Short said farmers in the county had “concrete evidence” that deer are passing TB on to cattle.
“Farmers have had real concerns in relation to the role wild deer encroaching on to their land is having in prolonging TB episodes and contributing to new outbreaks,” he said. “This study confirms both the incidence of TB in deer and the risk they are posing to the health status of the cattle in the farms they are encroaching upon.”
Reaction to steering group
Reacting to the most recent news of the steering group, Short said he is happy to see both the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Arts and Heritage making progress on this issue.
“In fairness, they are making progress on this issue but it has been a long time coming,” he said.
“Both Departments have agreed that there is a problem with TB in deer in Co Wicklow, so the formation of the steering group to reduce the density level of deer has to be taken as a positive sign.
"Levels of TB in cattle declined when the Department of Agriculture began culling badgers in certain areas," Short continued, "so we know there is a relationship between wildlife and cattle in the spread of TB."
Short also said he was glad the Department was considering carrying out a survey to check levels of TB in deer in the areas of Wicklow outside Calary.
“I know a number of farmers in the south of the county, down around Tinahely, that are having huge problems in relation to TB in cattle,” he said. “They are anxious to see progress made on checking TB levels in deer in the area."
TB in Wicklow
Wicklow is one of the areas worst-affected by bovine TB in Ireland. In 2015, the herd incidence of TB in west Wicklow was the highest in the country at 12.89%. East Wicklow was the third highest at 6.78%.
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