The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has called for “urgent and decisive action” from the Northern Ireland Assembly on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) following cross-party recognition of the disease’s impact on farms.
A motion on bTB brought forward by Sinn Féin, which includes an amendment from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), was passed within the Assembly this week, formally recognising the “scale and seriousness” of the disease on the sector.
While welcoming the announcement, UFU deputy president Glen Cuddy noted that “farmers have been living with this disease for years, so it is important that reality is now being fully acknowledged at Assembly level”.
He said: “This disease is costing in excess of £60 million a year in direct terms, but the real figure is far higher when you look at the hidden impact on farm businesses, families and the wider industry.
“The Andersons report makes it absolutely clear, farmers are carrying the largest share of the cost of bovine TB; that is simply not acceptable.
“No other part of the system is exposed in the same way, yet farmers are expected to absorb the financial, emotional and operational burden year after year,” Cuddy added.
Environment and economy
The UFU deputy president stated that the motion reflects what many farmers have been saying “for a long time – bTB is not just an animal health issue, but a major economic and environmental challenge.”
He highlighted that the eradication of bTB can help to improve farm sustainability and reduce emissions as “diseased animals are less efficient, meaning more inputs and higher emissions per unit of output”.
Cuddy also said that “there is no credible pathway to eradication without dealing with the wildlife reservoir”, such as badgers.
“That argument isn’t new, it’s supported by science and experience elsewhere; the time for hesitation is over.”
According to the deputy president, there is a “growing frustration” among farmers that despite repeated reports, strategies and political discussions, meaningful progress on the ground remains too slow.
He went on to say: “We cannot continue with a system where farmers carry the greatest burden of this disease.
“Beyond the farm gate, bovine TB is impacting rural employment, livestock marts, the wider agri-food supply chain and our ability to compete internationally.
“Action to eradicate bovine TB, including wildlife intervention, must now be delivered without further delay,” Cuddy commented.