Minister of State for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, Seán Canney is encouraging farmers to familiarise themselves with important changes to the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication programme.

The programme comes into effect from Monday, April 13.

The updated measures form part of the national Bovine TB Action Plan, and are aimed at tackling the disease more effectively and protecting herds.  

Minister Canney said: “I know how difficult and stressful a TB breakdown can be for farmers and their families.

“It’s really important that farmers take a few minutes now to understand what’s changing – particularly around testing and animal movements – so there are no surprises when the new rules come in.”

Changes

On Monday (March 30), Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, wrote to all herdowners advising them of important updates relating to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) testing requirements.

Minister Heydon said: "The aim of the bTB Action Plan is to reset the bTB eradication programme by putting in place measures necessary to tackle the current disease situation.

"The measures in the plan are targeting all routes of transmission including between wildlife and cattle, transmission between cattle, and residual infection.”

The updates involve a range of key changes, including:

Post-movement testing for cows and males over 36 months-of-age will no longer be allowed;
New 30-day pre-movement tests for dairy cows moving into breeding herds; contract-reared heifers;

Mandatory gamma interferon (GIF) testing in breeding herds of 80+ cows where infection thresholds are met (fully funded by the Department for Agriculture, Food and the Marine);
Restrictions on the sale of certain higher-risk animals for up to two years (except to slaughter or controlled finishing units);
Herds with repeat high-risk breakdowns (3+ reactors) will be tested every six months for three years.

Minister Canney said the changes are "about working together to reduce TB levels and support the long-term sustainability of farming right across the country”.