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.