From 15 January 2018, beef herds in NI will move on to a one year in three testing regime for brucellosis, DAERA chief vet Robert Huey has announced.

With the last confirmed case of brucellosis in February 2012, and NI obtaining officially brucellosis-free status in 2015, there has been a gradual reduction in testing requirements in recent years. That included in 2015 an end to pre-movement testing, and moving beef herds to a test once every two years, and in dairy herds, a test once in the next five (to sit alongside bulk milk testing).

With beef herds now only required to test once in the next three years, it is hoped that if NI remains free of the disease, all testing brucellosis requirements could end in 2020.

Commenting on the latest change, Robert Huey said that it will bring further savings for industry, taxpayers and DAERA.

But he emphasised that industry must implement good biosecurity, adopt appropriate stock replacement policies and still continue to report abortions to DAERA.

Cows that abort will be tested by the Department when the abortion is reported and again at 21 days after the abortion.

Meanwhile, DAERA has launched a competition to appoint members to a new TB Eradication Partnership (TBEP), with effect from 1 April 2018.

Establishing the new partnership was among a number of recommendations made by the TB Strategic Partnership Group in its report published in December 2016, and which sets out a long-term plan to eradicate the disease in NI.

The new TBEP will provide expert advice to DAERA on TB controls, and comprise a chair and six members. In total, two members are being sought from the farming community, one from the processing sector, one representing nature conservation, a farm vet and someone with an appropriate scientific background.

Remuneration for the TBEP chair is a daily rate of £350 plus expenses, and for members, a daily rate of £250 plus expenses. Time commitment is not expected to exceed 20 days per year. Appointments will be made for an initial period of one year, and could be extended for up to four years.

The deadline for receipt of applications is 2pm on Friday 26 January 2018. A candidate information booklet and application form are available on the DAERA website.