The number of positive bovine TB reactors to a standard skin test in June 2026, fell below 1,000 head for the first time in three years, data published by DAERA shows.

In total, there were 991 reactors, down from 1,599 in the previous month and the lowest since the 926 head from June 2023. However, over the first half of 2026, TB reactor numbers still remain at historically high levels, with 9,154 reactors, which is only down slightly on the 9,282 and 9,285 head over the same period in 2025 and 2024.

To June 2026, there have been 1,029 new TB reactor herds found in NI, which is down from 1,121 in the previous year. As a result, annual herd incidence, which is calculated by dividing the number of new breakdown herds by the total numbers tested, stood at 9.51%, down from 9.66% in May 2026.

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The highest herd incidence rate continues to be in the area covered by Newtownards Divisional Veterinary Office (DVO) at 13.52%, followed by Coleraine DVO at 11.16%.

The figures also show that just over one animal in every 100 tested gives a positive result. Annual animal incidence was at 1.065% in June, which is down marginally on the 1.081% from May 2026.

Since February 2026, the highest animal incidence rate has been found in the area covered by Newry DVO and in June, this rate stood at 1.58% – a spike in this figure potentially suggests some herds in the southeast have had high numbers of reactors at individual tests.