Minister signals tougher TB controls including restrictions for high-risk herds
The Farming Independent understands the Minister told the meeting of industry stakeholders of the rising toll of bovine TB (bTB) on Irish farmers and set out a series of new measures aimed at curbing its spread — including a return to movement restrictions for cattle from high-risk herds, a move that has already drawn sharp criticism from farming groups.
Over 41,600 reactors were disclosed in 2024, a 44% increase on the previous year. With this rate of increase, the Minister warned Ireland could be facing 63,000 reactors in 2025.
More than 6,000 farm families were affected by a TB outbreak last year, with herd incidence rising to 6.04%, a 36% increase since 2022.
The economic fallout is severe, with the dairy industry alone estimated to have lost 145 million litres of milk in 2024, and farm gate price losses reaching approximately €70 million. Direct programme costs exceeded €100 million last year, with farmers contributing €8 million more in disease levies and testing.
Minister Heydon said the current approach — focused on testing, culling, and vaccinating badgers — was not enough. Citing a recent study, he called for enhanced biosecurity and tighter controls on the movement of high-risk cattle, including renewed restrictions on herds with a history of TB breakdowns.
'These steps are necessary to reduce stress for affected farmers and to protect livelihoods,' he said, outlining a five-point plan including reducing the role of wildlife, early detection, biosecurity improvements, and a renewed focus on high-risk cattle movement.
But the reaction from the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) to the proposals has been immediately scathing.
IFA Animal Health Chair TJ Maher said the proposals 'still have some distance to travel' and place undue burden on individual farmers.
'Yesterday, IFA published a report completed by ifac which showed that TB is costing farmers over €150 million per annum,' Maher said. 'A lot of the Minister's proposals would put extra costs on farmers — including the extension of restrictions and blacklisting of herds. This places the burden on farmers who, through no fault of their own, are enduring TB outbreaks.'
Maher said that for meaningful agreement to be reached, the Department 'will need to change their direction of travel.'
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