A requirement to carry out TB testing as animals move to a new herd is being considered by DAERA, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has confirmed.
Speaking at Stormont on Monday, Minister Muir outlined various proposals which are to be included in an upcoming public consultation on bovine TB.
It includes new criteria for “alternative control herds” which would allow certain calf rearing and beef finishing units to take in animals from TB restricted herds.
“We are also considering introducing pre- and post-movement testing,” Minister Muir confirmed.
The Alliance MLA said his department also wanted to continue with the wider use of the interferon-gamma blood test for TB.
The blood test is more accurate at picking up TB infections than the standard skin test, although the downside is that it produces more false positives.
“There is […] increased use of blood testing and it is important we continue to fund that,” Minister Muir said.
Other new TB measures include an initiative for “vet-led, on-farm biosecurity advice” and to give farmers “more information on their herds and TB history”.
On the issue of wildlife intervention, Minister Muir pointed to a new regional TB programme in the Strabane area which includes a badger vaccination project.
“In addition to that, we will go out very shortly to consult on wildlife intervention options in NI,” he added.
The minister highlighted a High Court ruling from 2023 which quashed DAERA’s previous plan for a non-selective cull of badgers due to flaws in its public consultation process.
“It is important that we learn lessons from that for the way forward,” he said.
However, the North Down MLA said any new legislation on wildlife intervention will not be brought before the NI Assembly until after the next election in May 2027.
“The legislation will fall to the next mandate. However, I am clear that wildlife intervention is an essential part of our approach to TB,” Minister Muir said.
NI budget ‘crisis’ could impact TB payments
Payments to NI farmers for TB reactor animals could be impacted by the lack of an agreed budget from the NI Executive.
Speaking to MLAs on Monday, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said “a crisis will develop rapidly” at Stormont if a budget is not agreed “in the next couple of weeks”.
“I am very conscious of the consequences of there being no agreed draft budget, particularly when it comes to TB compensation,” he said.
Minister Muir said another issue within DAERA which is impacted by the lack of a budget is the redevelopment of CAFRE campuses at Greenmount and Loughry.
He said a proposed £40m farm grant scheme was also delayed and concerns remain about funding allocations for the Farm Sustainability Payment.
The Executive previously agreed that farm support funding will remain ring fenced in NI, although it appears that Minister Muir wants a more concrete commitment.
“Until that is in writing as part of a multi-year settlement, so that we can give that certainty and allow the farming community to have that support, it is a real concern to me,” he said.
A requirement to carry out TB testing as animals move to a new herd is being considered by DAERA, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir has confirmed.
Speaking at Stormont on Monday, Minister Muir outlined various proposals which are to be included in an upcoming public consultation on bovine TB.
It includes new criteria for “alternative control herds” which would allow certain calf rearing and beef finishing units to take in animals from TB restricted herds.
“We are also considering introducing pre- and post-movement testing,” Minister Muir confirmed.
The Alliance MLA said his department also wanted to continue with the wider use of the interferon-gamma blood test for TB.
The blood test is more accurate at picking up TB infections than the standard skin test, although the downside is that it produces more false positives.
“There is […] increased use of blood testing and it is important we continue to fund that,” Minister Muir said.
Other new TB measures include an initiative for “vet-led, on-farm biosecurity advice” and to give farmers “more information on their herds and TB history”.
On the issue of wildlife intervention, Minister Muir pointed to a new regional TB programme in the Strabane area which includes a badger vaccination project.
“In addition to that, we will go out very shortly to consult on wildlife intervention options in NI,” he added.
The minister highlighted a High Court ruling from 2023 which quashed DAERA’s previous plan for a non-selective cull of badgers due to flaws in its public consultation process.
“It is important that we learn lessons from that for the way forward,” he said.
However, the North Down MLA said any new legislation on wildlife intervention will not be brought before the NI Assembly until after the next election in May 2027.
“The legislation will fall to the next mandate. However, I am clear that wildlife intervention is an essential part of our approach to TB,” Minister Muir said.
NI budget ‘crisis’ could impact TB payments
Payments to NI farmers for TB reactor animals could be impacted by the lack of an agreed budget from the NI Executive.
Speaking to MLAs on Monday, Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir said “a crisis will develop rapidly” at Stormont if a budget is not agreed “in the next couple of weeks”.
“I am very conscious of the consequences of there being no agreed draft budget, particularly when it comes to TB compensation,” he said.
Minister Muir said another issue within DAERA which is impacted by the lack of a budget is the redevelopment of CAFRE campuses at Greenmount and Loughry.
He said a proposed £40m farm grant scheme was also delayed and concerns remain about funding allocations for the Farm Sustainability Payment.
The Executive previously agreed that farm support funding will remain ring fenced in NI, although it appears that Minister Muir wants a more concrete commitment.
“Until that is in writing as part of a multi-year settlement, so that we can give that certainty and allow the farming community to have that support, it is a real concern to me,” he said.
SHARING OPTIONS