Lockhart criticises £2.3m bovine TB advice plan

DUP agriculture spokesman Carla Lockhart has criticised Daera’s decision to proceed with a new on-farm bovine tuberculosis (TB) biosecurity advice service, arguing the money would be better spent on measures to tackle the root causes of the disease.

The NI Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) has launched a procurement process for an on-farm veterinary-led biosecurity programme, expected to cost almost £2.3m over an initial three-year contract, with the option of a one-year extension.

The scheme will provide about 700 farms each year with two visits from accredited veterinarians to assess biosecurity risks and recommend measures to reduce the spread of bovine TB.

See also: Bovine TB costing NI farmers £96m a year, report finds

Announcing the initiative, agriculture minister Andrew Muir described bovine TB as a complex disease and said improved biosecurity could help reduce the risk of infection.

He said the new service, delivered by “trusted vets”, would help farmers protect herd health and complement recommendations in the TB Partnership Steering Group’s Blueprint for bTB Eradication.

Work duplication

However, Ms Lockhart questioned the value of the programme, saying farmers already receive professional herd health and biosecurity advice from their own veterinary practices.

She warned the new service risked duplicating existing work while diverting public money away from more effective interventions.

The Upper Bann MP argued that Northern Ireland’s TB eradication strategy must also address the role of wildlife in disease transmission, citing recent developments in Wales, where ministers have backed consideration of targeted badger controls where supported by scientific evidence.

She urged Daera to adopt what she described as a “balanced, evidence-led approach” that considers every available tool.

Financial and emotional toll

Ms Lockhart also highlighted the continuing financial and emotional impact of bovine TB on farming families, with thousands of cattle compulsorily removed each year.

While welcoming encouraging progress in cattle BCG vaccination and Diva testing trials in England and Wales, she said farmers deserved better.

“Cattle herd owners deserve more than another costly advisory programme; they deserve a comprehensive eradication strategy that is prepared to tackle every source of infection,” said Ms Lockhart.