TB reactor numbers continue to rise in Northern Ireland, with 1,304 reactor cattle removed in August, the latest month for which figures are available. This is sharply higher than the 827 and 833 removed in the same month in 2016 and 2015.

The number of reactors removed so far in 2017 is 10,152. This compares with 7,025 removed in the same period of 2016 and 6,730 head in 2015.

Observers suggest some of the increase in benchmark figures is due to higher disease levels but part of it is a more severe interpretation of test results by DAERA, the NI ministry for agriculture, as they try to get on top of the problem.

Herd incidence in NI so far in 2017 is 7.82%. APT rate is 5.07. Both figures have been rising for the past five years.