TB: 5,695 herds restricted over the last 12 months
In the past year, on a 12 month rolling basis, 5,695 herds were subject to restriction due to bovine tuberculosis (TB), compared to 4,885 in the previous 12-month period.
As of September 22 this year, the national herd incidence rate is 5.6% compared to 4.74% at the same time in 2023.
Both regions of Co. Wicklow saw by far the highest herd incidence rates nationally, with 12.02% in the east of the county and 16.81% in the west of the county.
The below table outlines the number of TB reactors and herd incidence rate in 2024 for Leinster counties:
| Counties | Herds restricted | Herd incidence | Number of reactors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlow | 48 | 4.20% | 152 |
| Dublin | 25 | 8.04% | 146 |
| Kildare | 107 | 6.67% | 534 |
| Kilkenny | 221 | 8.13% | 1,757 |
| Laois | 183 | 7.28% | 1,463 |
| Longford | 147 | 6.68% | 722 |
| Louth | 89 | 8% | 389 |
| Meath | 328 | 9.27% | 2,019 |
| Offaly | 180 | 6.55% | 702 |
| Westmeath | 180 | 6.55% | 792 |
| Wexford | 174 | 6.50% | 980 |
| Wicklow East | 106 | 12.02% | 798 |
| Wicklow West | 77 | 16.81% | 998 |
The regions with the highest herd incidence rates in Munster include Co. Cork, with the north of the county having an incidence rate of 8.28% and the south of the county at 8.5%.
This table highlights the number of TB reactors and herd incidence rate for Munster counties:
| Counties | Herds restricted | Herd incidence | Number of reactors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clare | 219 | 3.90% | 1,210 |
| Cork North | 423 | 8.28% | 3,431 |
| Cork South | 462 | 8.58% | 3,970 |
| Kerry | 294 | 4.97% | 2,453 |
| Limerick | 236 | 4.89% | 1,878 |
| Tipperary North | 279 | 9.05% | 3,464 |
| Tipperary South | 203 | 6.60% | 1,591 |
| Waterford | 104 | 5.40% | 952 |
The incidence rates for Connacht were lower compared to other regions, however in most cases county percentages were higher compared to the previous year.
The incidence rates per county for Connacht are as follows:
| Counties | Herds restricted | Herd incidence | Number of reactors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galway | 311 | 3.12% | 1,671 |
| Leitrim | 87 | 3.24% | 367 |
| Mayo | 193 | 2.40% | 830 |
| Roscommon | 174 | 3.52% | 562 |
| Sligo | 121 | 3.85% | 390 |
Finally, the below table shows the data for Ulster:
| Counties | Herds restricted | Herd incidence | Number of reactors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavan | 268 | 5.94% | 1,607 |
| Donegal | 180 | 3.80% | 421 |
| Monaghan | 276 | 6.91% | 1,436 |
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue said he is "committed to making real progress" in eradicating TB.
The TB programme in each county focuses on factors including wildlife, how disease is spread in the area, contiguous testing programmes, gamma interferon testing, cleansing and disinfection, testing compliance and swift isolation and removal of reactors.
Emphasis is placed on the biosecurity measures a farmer can take to reduce risks on their farm, and when buying in animals.
