Farming: Minister Heydon calls stakeholder summit to address increasing TB rates
Stakeholders will meet on Thursday, May 8, to discuss a reset of the TB programme aimed at addressing deteriorating TB disease levels.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, TD, is bringing together key stakeholders to a meeting next Thursday, May 8, to discuss a reset of the TB programme aimed at addressing deteriorating TB disease levels.
TB disease levels in recent years have increased significantly. Herd incidence has increased from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024.
Minister Heydon stated: “An increasing number of farm families are facing the emotional and financial hardship of a TB breakdown. Having been on a downward trajectory, disease levels have deteriorated in recent years and reached a point not seen since 2003. The stark reality is that we have reached a crossroads in our efforts to control and ultimately eradicate bovine TB.
“It is a challenging disease to control and eradicate, but it can and has been done elsewhere. However, left unchecked, this disease will impact many more families throughout rural Ireland and the output of our agri-sector, particularly in terms of lost production at both farm level and at processor level. It is essential that we take decisive action now to reverse the current trends."
The Minister said he intends "to bring forward proposals for a revamped eradication plan following this meeting".
"These will be based on the best scientific and veterinary advice available which will be debated and discussed in detail at the summit, and have the best interests of farmers, farm families and the agri-sector in mind.
"I am confident that if we take a robust scientific approach to controlling TB, not alone can we halt the increase of recent years but in time reduce it to a level where we can start working once again to our ultimate goal of eradication."
He added: “Some decisions that will be made will be difficult. However, without taking these decisions we will not improve the situation for the farm families we work with on a daily basis affected by bovine TB."
