TB levels look to have risen marginally in the first quarter of 2018, according to latest statistics from the Department of Agriculture. It identified 3,629 reactors, up 2,849 on first quarter 2017. One possible reason is that the Department tested more herds and likewise more cattle in the period.

There was little change to the two other important benchmarks – the number of reactors per thousand tests (APT) and herd incidence. APT rose by 0.11 to 1.74. Herd incidence fell by 0.01% to 2.59%.

Herd incidence in east Wicklow overtook west Wicklow and was the highest rate in the country at 6.87. Overall, Wicklow retains the highest levels of the disease.

More TB was also found in Co Monaghan. Herd incidence rose to 4.72%, APT rose to 6.49 and reactor cattle numbers doubled to 515.

Deer had same TB as badgers and cattle

The same strain of TB is circulating among cattle, deer and badgers in the Calary area of east Co Wicklow according to a study by the Department’s wildlife unit. This will add to farmers’ suspicions that rising deer numbers are a factor inhigh TB levels in cattle.

Samples were tested from 17 badgers, 23 deer and 173 cattle. The cattle were from 38 herds that were restricted due to ongoing TB. Five strains of TB bacteria were found in the samples. Types 1 and 2 were most common and were found in badgers, cattle and deer.

This indicates that the same strains of TB are circulating in the three species in the Calary area, vet James O’Keeffe, head of the Department’s wildlife unit, told the Deer Management Forum. But the findings cannot be used to conclude which species may be infecting other species.