TB Reactor Numbers Escalate as Minister Reduces Staff Resources in TB Programme – IFA

IFA Animal Health Chair TJ Maher has reacted furiously to the updates provided today to the TB Implementation Group by the Department of Agriculture.

“We are going to lose up to 10,000 more productive animals from our farms this year with reactor numbers predicted to hit 40,000.  Over 700 more farmers to-date or 5.5% of herds have had their farms restricted, while in the same period the Wildlife Control Programme have only dealt with an extra 200 badgers,” he said.

TJ Maher said compounding the situation is the Department of Agriculture announcement that the Wildlife Control Programme is losing eight full time staff as a result of the Government HR moratorium with no figures available for the broader impact of this moratorium on the staff resources across the veterinary and technical officer levels in the TB programme.

“These are critical areas in investigating and resolving TB breakdowns and ensuring timely removal of reactors which are vital if we are to get TB numbers under control.”

He called on the Minister for Agriculture and his Government colleagues to outline their position on TB Eradication. Are they really serious about eradicating the disease or are they just content with paying lip service to the problem.  Reducing key resources in the programme will leave farmers to endure the trauma and financial impact of TB breakdowns.

TJ Maher said actions from the Minister and his Government colleagues is what farmers need to see.  We must have a fully-resourced Wildlife Control Programme based on density reduction with full Veterinary and Technical Officer staff complements to investigate TB breakdowns and ensure the timely removal of TB reactors.