The Chairman of the special group set up to review how Tuberculosis in cattle is handled in Northern Ireland, said disease eradication presented a significant challenge but he was convinced it was possible.
Sean Hogan, Chairman of the TB Strategic Partnership Group, presenting its interim report this week, says TB can have a devastating impact on herd owners, families and their communities.
He spoke as the report goes out for consultation during the summer. The consultation ends on September 3 and anyone wanting to comment, can read it at http://www.dardni.gov.uk/tbspg-interim-report before a final report is made by the end of this year.
Sean Hogan stated: “During the past 10 years, the TB herd incidence level has fluctuated between 5 and 7.5 per cent and, unless additional firm action is taken, this level of disease is likely to continue. The programme cost to taxpayers is almost £30 million per year, and, in addition, the compliance cost to farmers is some £10 million per year. This must not be allowed to continue indefinitely.
“The eradication of bovine tuberculosis (TB) therefore presents us with a very significant challenge, but we are convinced that achievement is possible. Eradication has been realised in other countries and regions, using the same diagnostic tools that are available to us today. That said, our farm structures and culture are different from those elsewhere.
“Success elsewhere was predicated on a shared understanding and commitment by government, private vets, farmers, the agri-food industry and environmental bodies to progressively reduce the levels of bovine TB until the aim of eradication was realised.
Achievement of that success took time, resource input, industry discipline, and a united focus on the desired outcome. There is every reason why we, with common purpose, should be able to deliver the same desired result.
He said it was “regrettable” Northern Ireland has not been able to remove what he described as the scourge of TB.
Agriculture Minister, Michelle O’Neill, said:“ Bovine TB has a devastating impact on farm families and it is my desire to progressively reduce, and then eradicate, the scourge of T.B. The Ulster Farmers’ Union welcomed the publication of the interim report and Deputy President, Ivor Ferguson said it was clear the present strategy was not working for farmers or taxpayers.
“The report calls for more cooperation within the industry, and that is something we can go along with,” said Mr Ferguson.
Read the Report Here: TBSPG — Interim Report
(Source – Impartial Reporter – Brian Donaldson – 02/07/2015)
Second Year of TVR Project Underway in Banbridge Area
Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has announced that the second year of the Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR) Wildlife Intervention Research Project is now underway in a 100km² area around Banbridge, Co Down.
Year one of the Project was completed in September 2014 during which there were 630 badger capture events in the TVR area. This was made up of 280 unique badgers plus a further 350 re-captured badgers, with some badgers being captured on more than one occasion.
The Minister said: “TB disease has a significant financial impact on farmers due to movement restrictions, loss of productivity and follow up herd testing, and also on the Department, in terms of compensation payments and animal testing. TVR is a unique project across these islands, which involves the capture of wild badgers, sampling, micro-chipping and vaccinating them against bovine TB.
“The second year of the TVR Wildlife Intervention Research Project has commenced in a 100km² area around Banbridge. From this year, any captured badgers which test positive for bovine TB will be humanely put to sleep and removed from the area.
“The aim of the TVR research project is to describe the effects of implementing a test and vaccinate or remove approach on badgers in the Banbridge area, which is an area of high TB prevalence in cattle. The TVR Research Project will also greatly add to our knowledge base and provide currently unknown data on badgers.”
The Minister thanked farmers and land owners within the research area for their continued support of the TVR project and urged others to consider taking part. She said: “I would like to thank the remarkable number of farmers and land owners who granted access to their land last year to enable my veterinary staff to carry out this important work.
“I would ask any farmer or land owner who did not take part last year to consider doing so as we move forward into year’s two to five of the TVR Project. Please contact my Department for further information and to arrange an appointment with a departmental researcher. Once my officials receive permission to access private land, no further practical involvement will be required from farmers or land owners.”
(Source – Farming Life – Ruth Rogers – 08/07/2015)
Number Of TB Reactors Falls By Nearly Half Between 2008 and 2014
The number of TB reactors has fallen from 30,000 in 2008 to 16,000 in 2014, a reduction of almost a half in the past six years. According to Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney, the TB eradication programme has resulted in almost halving the number of reactors in Irish herds between 2008 and 2014. The decline has also continued into 2015, with the result that reactor numbers are likely to fall below 15,000 this year for the first time since the programme was introduced in the mid-1950s.
Pictured on a dairy farm that has encountered severe problems because of TB contracted from deer, IFA Animal Health Chairman Bert Stewart, IFA President Eddie Downey, farmer John Cullen and Wicklow IFA Chairman Tom Short on John Cullen’s farm near Rathdrum, Co Wicklow. The study sought by IFA and carried out by the Department over the past four months shows levels of TB in deer at 16%. Picture: Finbarr O’Rourke
In percentage terms, the Minister said that herd incidence of tuberculosis fell from 5.9% to 3.6% between 2008 and 2014, and, with the possible exception of Wicklow, has continued to decline further this year.
Coveney went on to say the reduction in the incidence of the disease has brought significant benefits to farmers, with 2,700 fewer herds restricted in 2014 compared to 2008. Moreover, the annual cost of the TB eradication programme has fallen from €55 million in 2008 to €35 million in 2014.
However, the areas of Wicklow, Westmeath and Wexford are three counties where incidences of TB are significantly higher than the national average of 3.6%.
The Minister referred to a recent study carried out by his Department which looked at the impact of TB in deer on the situation in Co Wicklow.
He said “the results of the exercise are still under examination by my Department. The findings of the study will be considered by the non-statutory Irish deer management forum, which will make appropriate recommendations in respect of all aspects of deer management in Wicklow and nationally.”
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Amy Nora Fitzgibbon – 02/07/2015)