NI TB rates continue on a downward trend

The latest bovine TB statistics published by DAERA show disease rates have continued on the downward trend seen over the last few months.

In March 2026, a total of 1,126 reactors were removed off NI farms at TB tests, which is 27% lower than the same month in 2025 and the lowest monthly total recorded by the department since April 2023.

Across the first three months of 2026 there were 4,462 TB reactors found at tests, down over 8% on the 4,871 from the same period in 2025.

Annual herd incidence rate, which is a measure of the number of new TB herd breakdowns out of the total number of herds that were tested, now sits at 9.57%.

While that is still a historically high figure, it is down from 9.66% in February 2026 and its lowest level since 2022.

The highest TB incidence rate continues to be seen in the area covered by Newtownards Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO) at 13.9%, followed by Coleraine DVO at 10.74%.

All other DVO areas are now below 10%, with the lowest rate being the 6.43% seen in the area covered by Mallusk DVO.