TB levels in cattle herds have fallen to the lowest levels recorded.

Full-year figures for 2015 show reductions in the three main yardsticks of the disease – number of reactors identified, percentage of herds infected and reactors per 1,000 tests (APT). The improvement over the past decade, despite a blip in 2014, is reducing the cost borne by the Department of Agriculture in combating the disease. It has also reduced the number of farmers suffering the cost of an outbreak.

However, for those hit with reactors, the cost burden remains high. Revealed in last week’s Irish Farmers Journal, the compensation supports include increased income supports, removal of the 100-animal ceiling, higher valuation ceilings for pedigree stock and an improved hardship grant.

Not all areas saw improvement and counties Wicklow and Cavan remain blackspots. In both counties herd incidence, the number of reactors and APT all increased.

East Wicklow, where testing has shown deer to have high levels of infection, saw a drop in all figures, as did Co Clare.