In the fourth instalment of Agriland’s new series, Silent spread – Ireland’s TB battle, we take a closer at look at the high herd incidence rates of the disease in Northern Ireland (NI) and Scotland’s TB-free status.
Officials in NI are currently working to provide Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Andrew Muir, with “detailed advice on potential wildlife intervention options” to play a role in controlling TB, according to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).
A DAERA spokesperson told Agriland that any proposals “will be fully consulted upon to enable a fully informed, science-led decision on the way forward”.
The rate of bovine TB in Northern Ireland remains high with herd incidence rates having been above 10% since November 2022, the spokesperson said.
“Herd incidence currently stands at 10.6% for the 12 months to the end of April 2025.
“This compares with a lower herd incidence of 10.17% for the previous 12 months to the end of April 2024 but represents a slight reduction from the high rate of 10.87% herd incidence for the 12 months to the end of January 2025,” they added.
Minister Muir said recently that with respect to wildlife specifically, his officials “continue to work on the issues and gaps identified” by a judicial review ruling in October 2023, “which quashed my predecessor’s decision to advance a non-selective cull of badgers in areas of high TB incidence”.
“This work will provide me with detailed advice on potential wildlife intervention options and involves looking at the latest scientific evidence; the potential legislative options relating to an intervention; and updating figures relating to how much these interventions could cost,” the minister said.
Review of NI’s programme
NI’s chief veterinary officer, Brian Dooher reviewed the current TB programme and policy last year.
Minister Muir accepted Dooher’s recommendation in the review to establish a new TB Partnership Steering Group (TBPSG) – made up of industry members and chaired by Dooher – to develop a new delivery plan for eradication of TB.
“This work is now completed and the TBPSG’s Blueprint for Eradication was published before Easter, outlining actions on three key priorities of people, cattle, and wildlife.
“This blueprint represents a new way forward with joint government and stakeholder commitment.
“The minister has asked officials, working in partnership with the TBPSG, to advance at pace the necessary recommendations and actions which are needed to progress bTB eradication,” the DAERA spokesperson explained.
The fundamental measures outlined in the blueprint include enhanced disease surveillance and testing programmes, including private veterinary practitioner and DAERA veterinary staff training.
The blueprint also outlines a proposal to develop and pilot a regionalised approach for the implementation of novel measures, including new partnership working, using the results as a ‘proof of concept’ for deploying any such measures on a country-wide basis.
The risk of spread of TB from neighbouring herds, between herds and local wildlife to be mitigated by improved biosecurity is also a consideration.
In regards to wildlife, the TBPSG says it will “work to inform development and delivery of effective wildlife interventions, using an evidence-based approach to develop policy and measures for ministerial consideration that mitigate against the spread of bTB to and from any wildlife reservoirs”.
The blueprint outlines that a significant number of herds suffer from prolonged and recurrent breakdowns, often with large numbers of infected animals.
“To tackle this, we will bring forward a range of measures, including seeking the establishment of a DAERA-led taskforce that considers how best to support farmers to remove infection from their herds and prevent its reintroduction on a case-by-case basis.”
In the blueprint, the steering group also commits to working with the wider DAERA TB eradication transformation programme to develop further proposals for ministerial consideration.
“These will aim to address the unsustainable cost of the programme, including considering options for reforming compensation to ensure it aligns with established disease control measures, ensuring there is a fair and just transition that protects financial sustainability for farmers if changes are introduced.
“We will seek actions that drive positive behavioural changes, reduce fraud and minimise the financial impact of fraudulent activity.
“We will advance exploration of options for support for farmers suffering a bTB breakdown and where financial support above compensation payable could be beneficial,” it outlines.
Compensation
The DAERA spokesperson told Agriland that the annual cost of delivering the TB programme in NI is now in the region of £60 million.
“That is a cost to the public purse that cannot be sustained indefinitely and the department is committed to taking action to reduce it,” they said.
Over the last five financial years, the breakdown of all the costs associated with the control of bTB in Northern Ireland were:
- 2020/2021: £40,950,364.03
- 2021/2022: £45,863,985
- 2022/2023: £52,835,659.43
- 2023/2024: £55,686,765.59
- 2024/2025: £60,084,423.75
Under current arrangements, DAERA pays compensation for animals testing positive for TB at 100% (uncapped) of the market value for the individual animal/animals involved.
“This is different from the compensation arrangements in place in Great Britain and Ireland,” the DAERA spokesperson said.
“In England, monthly table valuations determine the average market valuation for animals removed.
“In Scotland, there is a cap of £5,000 for non-pedigree animals and £7,500 for pedigree. In Wales, animals are valued for compensation but with a cap of £5,000.
“In Ireland, valuations are capped at €3,000 for standard reactor animals, €4,000 for stock bulls and €5,000 for pedigree stock bulls,” they added.
TB testing
There are currently two tests approved for use in EU-approved TB eradication programmes and therefore, suitable for use in the NI eradication programme to detect bovine TB in live cattle.
These are the tuberculin skin test, and the Interferon Gamma ‘IFNG’ blood test.
“Routine testing is carried out using the Comparative Intradermal Tuberculin Test commonly referred to as the skin test,” the spokerson said.
“The IFNG blood test is used on a voluntary basis in certain circumstances as a supplementary test in addition to the skin test to improve detection of infection in herds infected with bTB.
“All herds are tested at least once a year and more often if infection is suspected or revealed in the herd,” they added.
Collaboration
Meanwhile in the south, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon is currently considering a number of new measures for a revamped TB control plan to control the disease as the country grapples with record high reactor numbers and soaring costs associated with TB.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine told Agriland it collaborates with DAERA on bovine TB, “sharing information on bTB epidemiology, disease trends and research findings”.
“Officials meet formally twice annually, and there are regular informal communications.”
Last month, Minister Martin Heydon after his first North South Ministerial Council meeting in Armagh said that he “addressed our cross border work on biosecurity measures covering diseases such as bovine TB and our efforts to keep the Bluetongue virus off the island of ireland”.
“Working closely with my counterpart Minister Muir and his chief veterinary officer Brian Dooher, we collaborate on a range of issues addressing the fact that the island of Ireland is one epidemiological area and that we need to work as one on issues like these along with equine traceability, plant protection and improving our water quality,” the minister said.
Scotland TB-free
The contrast between the situation on this island compared with countries such as Scotland appears stark.
Scotland has managed to maintain an officially TB-free status since 2009. It is the only UK country to have this status.
This means that Scotland has maintained a low and stable incidence of TB – and maintaining this status is a priority, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in the UK says.
While an officially TB-free status recognises the low incidence of TB in Scottish herds, it does not mean the country has no cases.
This status has “significant” economic benefits for the Scottish cattle industry in a number of ways, according to the APHA:
- Fewer and more targeted risk-based TB tests (some herds are exempt from testing if they meet the low risk criteria);
- Reduced risk of TB infecting wildlife;
- Greater export opportunities.
If the number of TB breakdowns in any year exceeds certain levels, the officially TB-free status may be lost.
The Scottish Government has testing programmes in place for surveillance, breakdown management, and where there is suspicion of infection.
Cattle in Scotland are tested at a default interval of 48 months (four-yearly routine herd testing), but in certain circumstances a herd may need testing more often.
Some Scottish herds which are ‘low risk’ are exempt from the four-yearly routine herd testing.
According to the APHA, effective surveillance is essential to identify TB infection early. This reduces the spread of disease and maintains Scotland’s TB-free status.
