TB figures at the end of September show little change on 2016. Latest data from the Department of Agriculture show herd incidence at the end of the third quarter was 3.24%, marginally up from 3.04% at the same point in 2016. Also:

  • Reactors per 1,000 tests (APT) was 1.84, a decrease from 1.9 last year.
  • The number of TB reactor cattle removed in the first nine months of 2017 was 12,119, a decrease of just 24.
  • The number of herds restricted at the end of September was 2,186, an increase of 161.
  • The number of herds in the country fell by 891 to 114,986. However, the number of cattle rose by 86,463 head to 6,919,729 head.

    The Department of Agriculture is making gains against the disease in Co Wicklow, the worst blackspot for the disease.

    Herd incidence and APT have fallen in West Wicklow for the third year running. It continues to be the area with highest TB levels with herd incidence of 10.6% and APT of 5.64.

    There are also improvements in East Wicklow, with herd incidence and APT likewise falling for the third year running to 6.26% and 3.27 respectively.

    But herd incidence is stagnating or increasing in Cavan at 4.89%, Meath at 5.2%, Cork North at 4.43%, Cork South at 4.16%, Monaghan at 4.04%, Tipperary North at 4.07% and Wexford at 4.5%.