Bovine TB

Effective from 1st February 2023

There are new European Union Regulations regarding Bovine TB, which require that all animals moving farm to farm or through marts must be tested within a certain time frame.

The Bovine TB Stakeholders Forum has agreed to introduce these requirements on a phased basis.

Initially, the requirements are that:

• Cows of all ages, and males over the age of 36 months that are moving farm to

farm or through a mart must be TB tested in the last six months and

• They must also be moving from a herd that has been tested in the last six months.

• If they do not fulfil both these requirements, they must then be tested, either

within the 30 days prior to movement or within 30 days after movement into the new herd.

Animals that require a test in the 30 days after movement will be restricted immediately to the herd into which they have moved. This herd has 30 days to carry out a test on these animals. If after 30 days, the animals have not been tested, the herd that received them will be restricted. Sale of calves under six weeks of age and the purchase in of animals will be permitted. If after another 60 days, the animals have still not been tested, the whole herd will be scheduled for a TB test. If the moved in animal at any point is slaughtered, the restriction will be lifted, except where the herd has been listed for a full test. This allows the opportunity for cull cows to be purchased, fed and slaughtered without incurring the cost of testing.

Click here to download the information leaflet.

The bacterium which causes bovine TB, spreads from cattle to badgers and badgers to cattle. The Department is striving to interrupt this spread by expanding its badger vaccination programme across the country. As with all vaccination programmes, population penetration is key to its success. Therefore, knowledge of all badger setts is critical to the programme. The Department has a dataset of the location of some 47,000 badger setts but there are many more unknown setts scattered across the country. This new app will allow farmers to assist the Department in locating these setts and therefore extend the vaccination programme. Badgers are a protected species under the Irish Wildlife Act and the capture of badgers under the wildlife programme is subject to licence from the National Parks and Wildlife Service. The vaccination programme will protect badgers and cattle from the devastating effects of bovine TB. There is no vaccination approved for use in cattle.

Click here to download the App:

https://badger-sett.apps.services.agriculture.gov.ie/

• TB Forum

• National Bovine TB Statistics 2020
• Value for Money and Policy Review Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Programme (1996-2006)

TB Leaflets, Videos and Posters

National Bovine TB Statistics

Central Statistics Office - Bovine Tuberculosis

The above link can be viewed using Chrome, Microsoft Edge or Firefox.

1. How to Accept a Valuation on AgFood.ie

2. How to Deal with Rejecting a Valuation on AgFood.ie

New Veterinary Practitioners who intend to carry out TB Testing in Ireland are required to complete the DAFM TB Training course prior to any TB Testing.

The TB training courses are held during Spring, Summer and Autumn. Advanced booking is required as places are limited. Please see the TB Training course dates provided below.

The TB training course consists of online lectures, a practical TB training workshop, and an online assessment. All modules must be fully completed.

Upon successful completion of the DAFM TB training course, new Veterinary Practitioners can contact their local DAFM Regional Veterinary Office and request a supervision inspection for their first herd TB test.

To register for a TB Training Course please contact: ERADProcure@agriculture.gov.ie

• Frequently Raised Topics on Bovine TB
• Bovine Tuberculosis - Animal Health Surveillance Website
• Wildlife and TB

David Quinn, Superintending Veterinary Inspector at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, is on this week’s joint episode of the Dairy Edge and the Beef Edge with hosts James Dunne and Catherine Egan. David gives a detailed breakdown on Ireland’s TB statistics. He describes the testing methods and why they are used and outlines the issues around false positive and false negative animals. David also outlines the current strategies to manage TB risk within the wildlife population.

Joint Podcast Beef Edge & Dairy Edge https://link.chtbl.com/wdeTFWrO

Teagasc Beef Edge features Philip Breslin Superintending Veterinary Inspector discusses all things related to bovine TB. Tune in https://bit.ly/BovTB

Teagasc Dairy Edge features Philip Breslin Superintending Veterinary Inspector discusses all things related to bovine TB. Tune in https://bit.ly/TBinDairyHerds

Badger vaccination against TB: With Bovine TB such a potential issue on farms, farmers look to manage risk factors, including the risk of wildlife spreading the disease. Rather than culling the animals, Ireland has become a global leader in badger vaccination. https://www.rte.ie/radio/radio1/clips/22056266/

Teagasc Environment Edge features Ann Quinn, Superintending Veterinary Inspector from Kilkenny and Waterford Regional Veterinary Office. Ann explains how to manage farms to reduce the risk and spread of infection – and how to be proactive and not reactive. Tune in https://share.transistor.fm/s/7557e2c5

Telephone/Fax No's:

Veterinary Medicines Division