DAERA seeking providers of on-farm bTB advice service
Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has launched a procurement competition to appoint a provider of on-farm bovine tuberculosis (bTB) biosecurity advice.
The service will see biosecurity advice provided by an accredited veterinarian over the course of two farm visits.
It will involve an assessment of the specific biosecurity risks particular to that farm, alongside identifying a number of key recommendations to help reduce those risks.
DAERA said that the aim of this new service is to establish a “collaboration with veterinarians and farmers, identifying the key factors contributing to disease entry, persistence and spread within individual farm enterprises, and to generate clear, targeted farm specific biosecurity actions that directly address the risks identified”.
It is intended to support an increasing understanding of disease risks, and promoting the sustained adoption of improved biosecurity practices.
Priority
Launching the tender process for the service, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir said: “Bovine TB is a complex disease and many of the risk factors associated with bovine TB being introduced on farm can be reduced by good biosecurity practices.”
The minister added that tackling bovine TB is “a key priority” for him and his department.
“The impact that the disease is having on the farming community is unacceptable.
"I am confident that this new advice service, provided by trusted vets, will make a real contribution to helping farmers protect and improve the health of their herds.”
Around 700 farms each year are expected to benefit from this advice, with the first visits expected to take place later this year.
Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer, Brian Dooher, commented: “This next step towards delivering a new biosecurity advice service for NI farmers is welcome.
"Biosecurity is a key tool in helping prevent initial incursions, and spread, of animal disease.
“This new service complements several actions within the TB Partnership Steering Group’s Blueprint for bTB Eradication, which are being progressed by DAERA in partnership with stakeholders.”
