Mapping tool upgrade gives farmers new edge in bovine TB fight
© Tim Scrivener A major upgrade to the ibTB mapping tool now allows cattle farmers to access detailed, individual animal-level information for the first time – a move hailed by industry leaders as a breakthrough for risk-based trading and bovine TB control.
The free to access, online interactive ibTB map, run by the Environmental Research Group Oxford and the Animal and Plant Health Agency and funded by Defra and the Welsh government, has been a trusted source of bovine TB data for more than a decade.
Previously limited to herd-level breakdowns, the tool now offers a deeper layer of insight for cattle keepers, including an animal’s date of birth, sex, breed, recent TB test results, and the bovine TB history of both current and previous herds where available.
See also: New bovine TB review backs flexible farm testing
The update follows a government consultation last year and lobbying by the NFU, which argued for greater transparency to help cattle farmers make more informed and more responsible cattle-purchasing decisions.
“The new enhancements detailing the date and type of an animal’s most recent bTB test will help cattle keepers further assess the bTB risk of an animal moving into a new herd,” the NFU said.
The NFU also supports Defra considering further future developments, including the introduction of radial/hotspot zones and more detail on bovine TB-licensed units.
AHDB lead veterinary science expert and TB Advisory Service technical director Sarah Tomlinson also welcomed the upgrade, linking it directly to long-standing calls for better access to data and farmer empowerment in disease control.
“The [refreshed Godfray] report highlights the need for access to farm-level bovine TB test data, and a robust cattle-tracing system are fundamental to empowering farmers and their private vet to manage recurrence of disease and the risk of trading TB-infected cattle,” she said.
Biosecurity control
Ms Tomlinson, who is also an experienced farm vet based in Derbyshire, praised the ibTB upgrade as a step toward risk-based trading and more sustainable disease-control strategies.
“This update to ibTB supports informed purchasing decisions,” she said. “It’s a valuable tool, especially when combined with guidance from the TBHub.”
Stakeholders agree that this digital leap forward could help put cattle farmers in firmer control of their own biosecurity and aid government efforts to eradicate bovine TB in England by 2038.