A number of rural candidates in the 2024 General Election – which will take place tomorrow (Friday, November 29) – have highlighted that the issue of TB is on the minds of many farmer voters they come across.
At present, all the main indicators for TB in Irish cattle herds are moving in the wrong direction.
For example, the latest figures from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) show that 37,964 reactor animals were removed in the 12 months to the end of September 2024.
This compares to 25,916 reactors that were removed in the period from October 2, 2022 to October 1, 2023.
Speaking to Agriland, Fine Gael general election candidate for Cork South West Tim Lombard – currently a member of the Seanad – said that the level of TB in Cork is at “levels never seen before”.
“I would say we have an epidemic at the moment with close to 5,000 reactors recorded in west Cork. That’s well over double the numbers you’d expect,” he said.
Lombard added: “It’s certainly an issue for farmers in this part of the world right now. I’m hearing horrific stories of 30, 40 and 50 reactors per herd, in some cases 30% of a herd gone.
“There are outbreaks in Ballinhassig, Timoleague, Kilbrittain, Caheragh. You almost have entire parishes locked up.”
However, the senator said that, while things are “bad now”, there is growing fear among farmers about what will happen in the early months of next year while cattle are housed.
“As cattle are housed for the winter, if there is TB present, things will be an awful lot worse in the months ahead. This is adding to stress and pressure on farmers and their families,” he said.
“The obvious impact of a TB outbreak for farming families is financial but there is a huge physical and mental cost as well,” he added.
“Having animals locked up means more work and demands on the farmer physically. The mental health impact is felt by the entire family not to mention the vet that carries out the test and has to deliver the bad news. It’s soul destroying and traumatic for all involved.
“It’s very difficult to reconcile the horror of this with hearing about reduced staff numbers in the Wildlife Control Programme and suspended badger vaccination programme,” the general election candidate said.
Lombard commended the work of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials in west Cork. However, he said there is “no doubt” that falling staff levels are affecting vaccination work.
Meanwhile, another election candidate, Tipperary independent Michael Lowry, also highlighted this issue.
He called on the incoming minister for agriculture, whoever that might be, to immediately implement additional measures to address the ongoing outbreaks of TB in parts of north Tipperary and north Kilkenny.
Specifically, Lowry called for sufficient personal to be in place in regional veterinary offices to manage disease control issues effectively. He also called for the testing of wild deer and badgers throughout the remainder of the year.
“Farmers in north Tipperary and north Kilkenny are facing significant challenges due to the high levels of TB affecting their herds,” he said.
“It is imperative that we provide them with the necessary support and resources to combat this disease and protect their livelihoods.
“Our farmers are the backbone of the agri-food sector, and we must do everything in our power to support them during these challenging times,” Lowry added.