There were almost 2,000 more high-risk herds for TB in 2021 than there were in 2020, new figures from the Department of Agriculture show.

The Department identifies high-risk herds as those which have been clear of TB for less than three years. To date this year, there are 19,413 high-risk herds, up from the 17,447 in 2020.

The figures show that there were 307 fewer herds which were clear for 10 or more years in 2020, meaning that these 307 herds had at least one reactor. There were 49,490 herds retaining animals which were present during a previous TB breakdown, with 1.06m animals present in herds during these breakdowns.

Last year, herds were classified for TB by when they last had a breakdown – C1 means a herd has been clear of TB for a year while C10 means a herd has been TB clear for 10 years or more.

Inconclusives

“In September, all herdowners that had retained previously inconclusive animals were written to and advised that these higher-risk animals should be considered for culling at the end of the current lactation,” a Department spokesperson said.

“At that time, there were 3,117 herds retaining 4,537 previously inconclusive animals.

To date, 62% of animals, 429 out of 695, have tested positive and were removed as reactors from herds

“Since then, in only two months, there has been a reduction of 12% in herds retaining previously inconclusive animals and a reduction of 13% in inconclusive animals retained.”

Last April, a new policy on blood testing animals which tested inconclusive began.

To date, 62% of animals, 429 out of 695, have tested positive and were removed as reactors from herds.

Plans

The Department has also carried out high-impact TB plans, which has resulted in “enhanced measures” being rolled out in areas under the management of Cavan/Monaghan, Offaly/Westmeath, Louth/Meath, Galway, Cork, Enniscorthy, Naas and Clonakilty regional offices.

These measures include prioritised and enhanced wildlife controls, increased GIF blood testing to detect early infection, enhanced cleaning and disinfection controls and increased TB test frequency.

In Co Clare, during the lifetime of the programme, herd incidence has dropped from 4.5% to 2.9%

There are “encouraging signs of stabilisation and improvement” in areas where these action plans have been carried out, it said.

“For example, in Co Clare, during the lifetime of the programme, herd incidence has dropped from 4.5% to 2.9% and the APT (reactors per thousand animals tested) has dropped from 2.6 to 1.4,” a Department spokesperson said.

Badger sett app

As reported by the Irish Farmers Journal recently, a new app which allows farmers to report the location of badger setts has been launched. In the first week following its launch, 360 setts were reported.

“By early November more badgers had been captured for vaccination and culling ?than had been captured in 2020. The majority of these were in vaccination zones.

“A successor to the Irish Deer Management Forum will be established in 2022 following a request by the TB Stakeholder Forum,” the spokesperson said.

Overall TB levels

TB levels in 2021 are likely to be lower than in 2020, the Department said.

“This will be the first annual decrease in TB since levels starting rising in 2016.

“Herd incidence in the 12 months to 6 December 2021 was 4.31% compared to 4.37% on the corresponding date last year, and the number of reactors in the 12 months to 6 December 2021 was 20,752, compared to 22,782 on the corresponding date last year, a decrease of over 2,000 reactors.

“This is evidence that the new policies implemented under the TB strategy, supported by the TB Forum and the three working groups, are starting to have an effect.”