This is a subscriber-only article
Almost 40 farmers located within 1km of a Longford farm affected by a TB breakdown have been contacted about TB vaccinations for badgers.
The landowners were written to by the Department of Agriculture, requesting information on the locations of badger setts.
In total, 39 land owners were contacted, 11 of whom were resident in Co Cavan, one in Donegal, six in Leitrim and 21 in Longford.
“The current TB eradication scheme includes a wildlife strategy involving the removal or vaccination of badgers from areas where there has been a TB outbreak,” a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture told the Irish Farmers Journal.
“As a general rule, when a herd is identified with bTB (bovine TB) and an epidemiological investigation conducted by Departmental vets results in badgers being considered a possible source, letters are sent to land users within 1km of the affected farm informing them that Departmental staff will be carrying out a survey in the area seeking the locations of badgers setts and requesting anyone with information on the locations of badger setts to share that information with us,”
“With regard to Co Longford, a recent TB breakout led to the Department contacting land users within 1km of the affected farm in the week beginning 21 January.”
SHARING OPTIONS: