Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is regarded by many farming families as the most significant threat to their businesses.
This is a fact which seems to be well recognised by Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC) chief executive, Colin Smith.
Disease infection rates continue to increase throughout Northern Ireland. And with this trend comes the growing pressure imposed upon beef and dairy enterprises in equal measure that manifests itself in so many different ways.
While reducing and eventually eradicating bTB is a shared goal, what has evaded all the relevant stakeholders up to this point is an effective strategy that can make all of this a reality.
Colin Smith stressed: “Doing nothing is not an option.
“Everyone with an interest in the eradication of the disease should support the efforts set in train courtesy of the blueprint devised by the newly established TB Partnership Steering Group.”
Smith noted that the LMC was asked to join the steering group at the beginning of this year, and immediately acceded to the request.
“Encouragingly, all the relevant stakeholder groups, including the animal welfare lobby organisations are now involved,” Smith added.
“This is a new process that is being led by a new chief veterinary officer and an agriculture minister who is still relatively new in the post.
“Fresh thinking on any subject is always important. The plan references a transformative approach and new strategies.
“This is, by no means, a case of repeating what has been tried before but building on the good work that has been done to date by previous groups,” he added.
The commission CEO also believes that with a properly resourced plan, the initial target of a 2% reduction in herd incidence by 2030, set out within the new blueprint, is achievable.
This would place Northern Ireland on a pathway to halve current bTB levels by 2040 and achieve eradication by 2050.
Reducing bTB breakdowns
These targets are set against the backdrop of a vision which recognises that fewer bTB breakdowns and consequential losses will help to address the stress, mental health, and financial challenges experienced by farming families in dealing with the disease.
In addition, a reduction in disease rates will also bring about more efficient production at a reduced cost to industry, leading to a more sustainable and resilient agri-food sector.
Lower disease rates will also have a significant and positive impact on the health and welfare of both livestock and the surrounding wildlife.
In the longer term, reducing bTB will also have a positive economic impact, significantly reducing the cost to the public purse of tackling the disease, helping to reduce emissions and lower the carbon footprint of the industry on the pathway towards net zero.
But the elephant in the room remains that of dealing with the reservoirs of TB that reside within wildlife populations.
Smith reiterated: “Any new strategy designed to deal with the bTB issue must reconcile the challenges posed to cattle, wildlife and humans.
“Not addressing all of these issues at the same time is a recipe for continuing failure.”
