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After two years of research, a report, compromising of 38 recommendations, was officially presented by the group on Thursday. Standout points include culling of badgers in areas with high levels of bovine TB, introducing capped compensation for pedigree and non-pedigree TB reactors, changes to testing and requirements for better on-farm biosecurity.
The report has been broadly welcomed by farmers, particularly in relation to the recognition for the need to address the reservoir of TB in wildlife.
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has said that the report will be examined by various committees within the union, although points surrounding testing in reactor herds and the length of time needed for the strategy (40 years) have been questioned.
The British Veterinary Association has welcomed the report, particularly with recommendations surrounding better communication between stakeholders. “We are pleased to see the strategy acknowledge the need to control the wildlife reservoir, and that culling, where necessary, will be considered as part of the integrated approach,” NI branch president Seamus O’Kane said.
Minister McIlveen has said that she will consult on the new approach to eradicating TB next year. “I intend to consider carefully the TBSPG Strategy in full. I have asked my officials to examine the proposed recommendations in detail and have tasked them to bring forward options for my consideration,” she said.
Listen to reactions from dairy farmer Tim Morrow, vet Ian Stewart and UFU deputy president Victor Chestnutt in the podcast below:
Listen to "Reaction to Northern Ireland's TB action plan" on Spreaker.
Difficult decisions lie ahead on bovine TB
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