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TB Eradication Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

Questions (106)

Denis Naughten

Question:

106. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to address the incidence of bovine TB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14677/13]

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Oral answers (5 contributions)

The bovine TB eradication programme implemented by my Department involves a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, the payment of compensation for cattle removed as reactors, implementation of a range of supplementary tests such as post-derestriction and contiguous tests, a wildlife programme involving the removal of badgers where they are implicated in a TB breakdown and, where appropriate, the depopulation of infected herds.

These measures have proven to be relatively effective in recent years, as evidenced by the significant reduction in disease levels over the past decade. For example, herd incidence has fallen from 7.5% in 2000 to 4.26% last year and reactor numbers in 2012 were, at 18,476, almost 40% lower than in 2008. In fact, the number of reactors last year was the lowest recorded since the commencement of the programme in the 1950s. Both the previous Government and this Government have been consistent in their efforts in this regard. It should also be noted that the reduction in disease levels in recent years has also resulted in considerable savings on disease eradication. For example, annual expenditure on the TB and brucellosis eradication schemes has fallen by over €20 million or by one third since 2008. I am sure Deputy Naughten has a more specific question and I will be pleased to answer it.

I have a specific question on the accuracy of the tuberculin skin test, which has been in use for nearly 60 years. It is about time we looked at something more effective to deal with the incidence of TB. There were reports last month in the UK media about a cow in respect of which the skin test produced negative results for five years but which was found to be riddled with TB when slaughtered. The cow was tested after 2007 in a college farm herd of 300 in Carmarthenshire. All monitoring, supervision and regulation was in place but the animal seemed to go under the radar. My concern is that there is a tension between cost and effectiveness in TB testing. The interferon-gamma test is very effective at identifying TB but it cannot be used as a surveillance test. Has any progress been made on the new Enfer blood test, which could function as a surveillance test and would be far more effective?

The honest answer is "I do not know," but I will find out. We have been using the same testing system for decades and it is based on a skin test. I know how it works because when I got this job I was being asked about TB and wanted to know exactly how testing worked. I am not familiar with the alternative testing systems but I will revert to the Deputy. If there is a genuine concern about accuracy, we must act.

I thank the Minister for his response. The difficulty is that TB and testing cost farmers on average €2,000 per annum. The 60th anniversary of TB testing will take place next year and it is time to reconsider how we carry out those tests.

The slaughter of badgers is very controversial here and in the United Kingdom and I have a suggestion to put to the Minister in that regard. We have a network of veterinary laboratories nationally. Could we examine the testing of badger roadkill, which would not involve the deliberate killing of the animals and might identify additional reservoirs of TB nationally? It might be a more effective approach than the current one. Roadkill testing could complement the current approach.

The badger programme is a targeted one. There is a great deal of misunderstanding about how we catch and put down badgers. We try to do it as humanely as possible. The view that we use wire snares is incorrect. We had a long discussion on the programme during the debates on the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2012 on Second and Committee Stages. I reassure people that we are trying to do everything we can to take account of welfare considerations. I hope to move to a badger vaccination programme rather than continue with the termination programme. As soon as we can do that without undermining our goals on TB, we will. People would be much more comfortable with that.

The evidence strongly suggests at the moment, however, that targeted badger culls in areas where there is a link between badgers and the spread of TB are hugely effective. In Northern Ireland and the UK they have been nothing like as successful in reducing the incidence of reactors within herds. The major difference in approach between the jurisdictions involves badgers. I will move to a targeted programme of vaccination of badgers rather than a targeted cull as soon as we can credibly do it and as soon as I am advised that we can proceed without undermining the overall programme.

If we can be more accurate in badger management by actually testing some of the badgers that have been killed on the roadside, it seems to be a sensible suggestion and I will include it in the system for consideration.

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