Last month I was present at the launch of the Shared Island TB Project at the farm of William Gregg in Newtown Cunningham. The project represents a significant development in how bovine tuberculosis (TB) may be addressed on a regional basis across the island of Ireland.
The pilot initiative, jointly launched by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir, will operate across a defined study area covering northeast Donegal and northwest Northern Ireland. The project is based on the recognition that bovine TB operates within a shared epidemiological landscape.
Disease transmission is not confined by administrative boundaries, and the movement of livestock and wildlife across the border has long been identified as a contributing factor in the persistence of infection. This five-year pilot programme aims to test the effectiveness of a coordinated regional approach to disease control.
Through enhanced cooperation between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the project will seek to establish a proof of concept for joint TB management measures.
The objectives include:
Reducing disease incidence.Lowering reactor numbers.Improving long-term eradication outcomes.Delivering potential efficiencies in public expenditure.The total projected cost of the programme is €11.7m, with €6.5m being provided through the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Fund. The remaining funding will be contributed by the respective agriculture departments in both jurisdictions.
The interconnected nature of agricultural challenges across the island were highlighted and also noted that cross-border cooperation will play an important role in addressing common issues such as animal health. Minister Heydon emphasised the importance of tackling TB within what is effectively a single epidemiological unit, stating that a coordinated approach to disease control and eradication is both logical and necessary. Minister Muir also underlined the importance of farmer engagement in shaping future policy outcomes, noting that the insights and practical experience of producers will be central to informing future strategies.
Scoping phase
Following stakeholder engagement in late 2025, the project will continue its scoping phase in the coming months. Research strands are expected to examine multiple pathways of disease transmission and persistence. The programme is intended to take a holistic approach, incorporating a range of measures rather than relying on any single intervention.
These measures include cattle testing, farmer biosecurity training, wildlife management and expanded research and data collection. From a regional farming perspective, the project has the potential to support improved herd health outcomes over time by addressing the structural challenges associated with cross-border disease management.
If successful, the pilot could provide an evidence base for wider implementation of coordinated TB control strategies across the island. While outcomes will take time to materialise, the initiative represents a structured attempt to align policy, research and on-farm realities in the ongoing effort to reduce and ultimately eradicate bovine TB.
Last month I was present at the launch of the Shared Island TB Project at the farm of William Gregg in Newtown Cunningham. The project represents a significant development in how bovine tuberculosis (TB) may be addressed on a regional basis across the island of Ireland.
The pilot initiative, jointly launched by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Northern Ireland’s Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Andrew Muir, will operate across a defined study area covering northeast Donegal and northwest Northern Ireland. The project is based on the recognition that bovine TB operates within a shared epidemiological landscape.
Disease transmission is not confined by administrative boundaries, and the movement of livestock and wildlife across the border has long been identified as a contributing factor in the persistence of infection. This five-year pilot programme aims to test the effectiveness of a coordinated regional approach to disease control.
Through enhanced cooperation between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, the project will seek to establish a proof of concept for joint TB management measures.
The objectives include:
Reducing disease incidence.Lowering reactor numbers.Improving long-term eradication outcomes.Delivering potential efficiencies in public expenditure.The total projected cost of the programme is €11.7m, with €6.5m being provided through the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Fund. The remaining funding will be contributed by the respective agriculture departments in both jurisdictions.
The interconnected nature of agricultural challenges across the island were highlighted and also noted that cross-border cooperation will play an important role in addressing common issues such as animal health. Minister Heydon emphasised the importance of tackling TB within what is effectively a single epidemiological unit, stating that a coordinated approach to disease control and eradication is both logical and necessary. Minister Muir also underlined the importance of farmer engagement in shaping future policy outcomes, noting that the insights and practical experience of producers will be central to informing future strategies.
Scoping phase
Following stakeholder engagement in late 2025, the project will continue its scoping phase in the coming months. Research strands are expected to examine multiple pathways of disease transmission and persistence. The programme is intended to take a holistic approach, incorporating a range of measures rather than relying on any single intervention.
These measures include cattle testing, farmer biosecurity training, wildlife management and expanded research and data collection. From a regional farming perspective, the project has the potential to support improved herd health outcomes over time by addressing the structural challenges associated with cross-border disease management.
If successful, the pilot could provide an evidence base for wider implementation of coordinated TB control strategies across the island. While outcomes will take time to materialise, the initiative represents a structured attempt to align policy, research and on-farm realities in the ongoing effort to reduce and ultimately eradicate bovine TB.
SHARING OPTIONS