6,000 farm families hit as bovine TB cases climb

More than 6,000 farm families were affected by bovine TB outbreaks last year, with herd incidence climbing to 6.04 per cent compared with 4.31 per cent in 2002.

The figures underline the growing pressure on farmers as Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon unveiled a new national action plan to curb the disease.

The plan, which received Cabinet approval in June, sets out 30 actions built around five central measures. These include protecting herds that remain TB-free, reducing the role of wildlife in transmission, improving early detection and elimination of infection, strengthening on-farm biosecurity and addressing the risk posed by high-risk animals.

Mr Heydon said the strategy was rooted in veterinary expertise and scientific evidence. He stressed that the emotional and financial toll of bovine TB was a constant source of anxiety for farmers and their families and that the plan would both support those currently affected and safeguard herds that are still free of the disease.

The Minister pointed to three main drivers of outbreaks: cattle-to-cattle transmission, residual infection in herds and spread from wildlife. He said the new programme was designed to tackle each of these in a coordinated way.

Bovine TB has proven difficult to eradicate despite decades of testing and control measures. While incidence rates fell during the early 2000s, they have risen steadily in recent years, with farm organisations warning of mounting costs and disruption caused by restrictions.

Mr Heydon described the new plan as an opportunity to halt the increase in disease levels and over time bring them down. The ultimate aim, he said, remained the eradication of bovine TB from the national herd.

Further details on the action plan are available at www.bovinetb.ie.