No change to high rates of TB in NI

The latest bovine TB statistics published by DAERA show disease levels continue to run at historically high levels.

In the first five months of the year to the end of May, a total of 7,984 cattle have been removed as reactors at a TB test. That total is up slightly on the same period in 2024 when there were 7,954 reactors; however, it is 20% ahead of the 2023 total and 44% more than in the first five months of 2022.

Annual herd incidence, which is a measure of the number of new reactor herds as a proportion of all herds tested, stood at 10.65% in May 2025, up from 10.18% in the previous 12-month period, but down slightly on the 10.70% average recorded in 2024.

However, individual animal incidence rate continues to be a major concern and points to an increase in the size of individual herd breakdowns.

To the end of May 2025, the annual animal incidence rate was 1.155%, which is up on the 1.149% average from last year.

The highest animal incidence continues to be found in the area covered by Enniskillen Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO), with the annual figure now at 1.946%.

Newtownards DVO is next at 1.651%. These data indicate that out of every 100 cattle TB tested in Fermanagh, nearly two animals are reactors to the disease.