A survey of NI farmers conducted by DAERA has found “frustration and disillusionment” with its bovine TB policy.
The exercise was conducted at the 2025 Balmoral Show and the results were published last week as a research paper in the Irish Veterinary Journal.
“Results show that stagnation in TB eradication has led to frustration and disillusionment, creating an environment fertile for blame, conspiracy theories and superstition,” the paper reads.
The conspiratorial beliefs that DAERA uncovered during interviews and questionnaires included claims that TB is “invented” and is “a way of culling numbers”.
“Despite information being available continuously through multiple platforms, misinformation and disinformation is abundant and increasingly widespread,” the paper reads.
The DAERA researchers say respondents were “split” on their opinion of wildlife involvement in TB transmission, but there was “consensus” about the inadequacies of current TB tests.
“The lack of progress in developing new, more accurate, less subjective tests added to the frustration of farmers,” the paper states.
DAERA state that, despite being aware of inaccuracies with the TB skin test, respondents underestimated the risk of their herd still being infected with TB after two clear herd tests.
However, survey respondents had “a lower level of confidence” in cattle being truly free of TB after two clear tests if it was a herd that they were purchasing cattle from.
“It is known from other fields of study that, despite accurate knowledge about the risks of a situation, people often underestimate their own risk,” the research paper reads.
Bluetongue
The survey at the 2025 Balmoral Show also asked NI farmers about bluetongue, with potential control measures being the main concern for respondents at the time.
“The clinical impact of a bluetongue incursion was rarely directly mentioned. The potential impact of the disease was perceived in terms of government-imposed control measures, such as loss of export or culling,” the paper reads.
SHARING OPTIONS