In response to rising bovine tuberculosis (TB) levels in Ireland, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has launched a robust action plan comprising 30 measures to curb the disease’s spread. Announced in May 2025, the plan targets early detection, enhanced biosecurity, and stakeholder collaboration, addressing a crisis that impacted over 6,000 farms and 41,000 cattle in 2024.
What Happened
The Irish Department of Agriculture, led by Minister Heydon, convened an emergency meeting with farming organizations, cattle mart operators, and the National Parks & Wildlife Service to roll out the Bovine TB Action Plan. The initiative includes mandatory blood testing for larger herds, pre-movement testing, and improved herd risk categorization. These measures aim to tackle a 44% surge in TB cases from 2023 to 2024, with projections indicating further increases in 2025. The plan builds on scientific and veterinary advice to protect farmers and the agri-sector.
Reasons Cited
The escalation of bovine TB, with Ireland recording the highest EU rates in 2022, prompted urgent action. A report commissioned by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) revealed that TB costs farmers €150 million annually, with the government spending €100 million on eradication efforts. The disease’s spread, exacerbated by wildlife transmission, particularly from badgers, necessitated a shift from previous culling-focused strategies to a balanced approach emphasizing vaccination and testing. The Department of Agriculture highlighted that the plan addresses unsustainable financial burdens on farmers while aiming to meet the 2030 eradication goal.
Expert Opinions
Dr. Margaret Good, a veterinary epidemiologist, stated, “Enhanced testing and biosecurity are critical to reducing TB transmission, particularly in high-risk areas.” IFA Animal Health Chair TJ Maher emphasized, “The government must alleviate the financial strain on farmers, as TB restrictions devastate livelihoods.” A 2023 study in Veterinary Record noted that targeted badger vaccination reduces TB incidence in cattle by up to 40%. The Journal of Agricultural Science (2024) underscored that pre-movement testing could decrease farm-to-farm transmission by 25%, supporting the plan’s focus on early detection.
Context
Bovine TB remains a persistent challenge, with Ireland’s herd incidence rising from 3.27% in 2015 to 4.37% in 2022, costing taxpayers and farmers nearly €1 billion by 2030 if unchecked. Historical efforts, like badger culling in the 1990s, reduced reactor numbers, but recent shifts toward vaccination reflect evolving wildlife management policies. The new plan has sparked cautious optimism among farmers, though some, like ICMSA President Denis Drennan, argue it places disproportionate regulatory burdens on farmers compared to other stakeholders.
Sources
- Agriland, 2025, on Heydon’s bovine TB action plan.
- RTÉ, 2025, on Minister Heydon’s TB measures.
- Irish Farmers’ Association, 2025, on reactions to the TB plan.
- Irish Examiner, 2025, on farmers’ cautious response to the plan.
- The Irish Independent, 2025, on TB Forum’s role in eradication delays.
- Veterinary Record, 2023, on badger vaccination efficacy.
- Journal of Agricultural Science, 2024, on pre-movement testing benefits.