Study to cut spread of bovine TB launched

Farmers in County Down are being asked about the effect of bovine tuberculosis on their farm as part in a government study to help reduce the spread of the disease in Northern Ireland.

Up to 350 farmers in the TB hotspot will be asked about their experiences with the disease and the presence of badgers on their farm as part of a study launched by Northern Ireland farm minister Michelle Gildernew on Tuesday (31 August).

The study, which will be carried out by the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, will compare farms that had recently had a TB breakdown with those that have no history of the disease.

It will look at the type of cattle and wildlife on each farm to identify “significant risk factors” which can be used to develop security advice which will be rolled out to all livestock farmers in the country.

Ms Gildernew said the TB Biosecurity Study was vital to help the industry gain a better understanding of how the disease, which costs the government £22m a year, was transmitted.

“I encourage the support of those farmers who are selected to participate in this valuable research,” she said.

Farmers taking part in the study, which is being backed by the Ulster Farmers’ Union, the NI Agricultural Producers’ Association, the National Beef Association and the Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in NI, will be asked about their experiences with the disease, she added.

Farmers will be asked about their farm business and about evidence of badger presence and activity both on their land and around their farm buildings.

A survey of on-farm buildings and a farm boundary survey will also be carried out by AFBI researchers, while some badger sett survey work will take place on and around participating farms.

“It should be clearly understood that no direct intervention with badgers is planned to take place during this TB Biosecurity Study,” Miss Gildernew added.

The survey will be carried out from October 2010 to the end of March 2011.