Over 100 farmers attended an IFA meeting on TB to vent their frustration at the slow pace of TB eradication in the country.

The meeting was held in the Abbey Court Hotel in Nenagh, where several officials from the Department of Agriculture attended the meeting and answered a number of questions from the floor.

180 farm families in north Tipperary are currently affected by TB

“As farmers we’re only too aware of the costs that have been associated with TB for the last 60 years,” IFA animal health chair Pat Farrell said.

“The pace of eradication so far has been way too slow.”

It was pointed out that the level of reactors across the country had flatlined, with the fight against the disease appearing to flag.

There has been a 15% increase in the number of reactors, with 13,933 bovine reactors identified this year.

The group was told that 180 farm families in north Tipperary are currently affected by TB.

TB lesions

A number of farmers voiced their anger the current method involved in testing TB lesions in factories.

One farmer told the crowd that it was a complete “waste of resources” when farmers were forced to wait up to eight weeks for test on lesions to be returned from the lab while they were locked up with TB.

“If farmers are locked they can’t buy. There needs to be something radical done,” one farmer said.

The presentations were highly interactive and despite some fierce questioning from the floor the officials were forthcoming with information and advice for farmers on the issue of TB.

Going down with TB is a form of torture

Philip Breslin of the Department said that he understood the problem around lesion testing and told the crowd that part of the issue was that the eight-week limit had to be in force to be in line with EU regulations.

He said that part of the problem was the slow growth rate of m bovis, the bug associated with TB – so it needed time to grow and appear in lab tests.

Another issue with lesion testing was that it is only around 40% accurate and factory workers only have about 60 seconds to check a carcase

“Last year there were 3,500 suspect slaughter house cases,” Breslin said.

“I think about 256 of those had to wait the full eight weeks to found out if they were positive.”

The delay in lifting the herd restriction can have a huge impact on farmers livelihoods and a number of farmers voiced their concerns on the issue.

Wildlife

The issue of wildlife was also raised and the crowd were told that up to 6,000 badgers are culled every year, with another 1,000 badgers vaccinated.

Plans are under way to vaccinate more badgers.

Farmers raised the issues of potential cross-contamination from deer or foxes.

“We know that there’s a link between badgers and cattle,” one of the officials told the crowd.

“There’s currently no evidence that there’s a link to foxes and TB.”

We’ve tested 74 wild deer that were shot

“We trap foxes every year to check for other diseases. We are right now testing a sample of those foxes for TB but I don’t think there’s any evidence that they play a significant role.”

The official went on to state that a study undertaken in Wicklow had shown a link in the same strain of TB between deer, badgers and cattle.

“Outside Wicklow there’s no evidence to show that deer are spreading TB to cattle,” he said.

“We’re not saying it’s not possible and we’re happy to test deer for free in an RVL.”

“We’ve tested 74 wild deer that were shot and brought into the lab this year and only three were found to have TB.”

  • 16 of the deer shot were in Clare – 0 had TB.
  • 3 of the deer were in Tipperary – 0 had TB.

    • Farmer anger

    Despite the openness of the Department staff, and the obvious thought they put into their presentations and responses to farmers there was palpable anger in the room, with a number of farmers frustrated.

    Issues were raised around TB compensation levels, red-tape regarding locked up herds and independent valuers.

    “You don’t realise how afraid people are to appeal valuations. Going down with TB is a form of torture and you don’t get it,” one farmer told officials.

    “All of you are getting paid, you’re not lying in bed at night wondering when the [compensation] money is going to come.”

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