Dáil debates

Thursday, 10 May 2012

4:00 pm

Photo of Séamus KirkSéamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 10: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans to review the TB eradication programme following changes implemented last year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23275/12]

Photo of Shane McEnteeShane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The bovine TB eradication programme includes a comprehensive range of measures, including the mandatory annual testing of all cattle in the national herd, the early removal of reactors, implementation of a range of supplementary tests such as post-derestriction and contiguous tests, a wildlife programme, the use of the gamma interferon test as an adjunct to the tuberculin test in problem herds and the depopulation of infected herds in some cases.

These measures have proven to be relatively effective in recent years as evidenced by the significant reduction in disease levels over the past decade. For example, herd incidence has fallen from 7.53% in 2000 to 4.18% last year and reactor numbers in 2011 were, at 18,500, the lowest recorded since the commencement of the programme in the 1950s. Reactor numbers and herd incidence continued to fall in 2011.

The eradication programme is scientifically based and my Department, together with the EU Commission which co-funds the programme, continues to monitor and review the effectiveness and efficiency of the programme on an ongoing basis with a view to the eventual eradication of the disease. In this context, notwithstanding the fact that the existing programme has contributed to a significant reduction in the incidence of bovine TB, my Department believes that, for eradication to become a reality, it is necessary to continually improve the programme in order to address all potential sources of infection, including from neighbouring herds, the movement of high risk animals and to ensure that testing is conducted in a timely manner. Thus, greater emphasis is being laid on ensuring all herds test on time and on reducing movement opportunities for potentially infected cattle so as to provide increased protection for clear herds and export markets. With this in mind, my Department introduced a number of changes to the TB programme earlier this year to tighten up on overdue testing and, in particular, to prevent the spread of disease from infected herds to clear herds. These changes were made following a number of consultation meetings with the farming organisations.

The changes are based on research which demonstrates that there are increased risks attached to the movement of certain animals and are designed to protect clear herds from buying in high risk animals. For example, research has shown that standard inconclusive reactors which passed the retest and moved out of the herd were, subsequent to passing the test, 12 times more likely to be TB positive at the subsequent test or at slaughter as compared with all other animals in the herd. The same increased risk did not apply to the non-inconclusive animals that moved out of the same herds at the same time. For this reason, my Department has decided to limit the movement of these higher risk individual animals from the herd of disclosure for the duration of their lifetime, except to slaughter or in exceptional cases to a feedlot.

Additional Information not given on the floor of the House.

Furthermore, with regard to the new controls on the movement of animals out of herds which, following an epidemiological investigation have been identified as contiguous to or neighbouring a herd experiencing an active high risk TB breakdown, research shows that, in 2011, the risk of such herds disclosing TB is almost three times greater than the risk in the case of herds tested on a round test. In view of the fact that contiguous tests were conducted on some 8,000 herds in 2011, involving almost 800,000 animals and resulting in the disclosure of 2,256 reactors, the risk of TB spreading from such herds is very significant.

I am very pleased with the reduction in the herd and animal incidence of TB in recent years. It is essential that this improvement continues. Ensuring that there is a robust testing regime in place and that disease is not spread from infected herds to clear herds are key factors in achieving the goal of eradication and in continuing to secure funding from the EU. My Department will continue to review and make changes to various elements of the programme as deemed necessary.

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that there have been great improvements in the eradication of TB. However, I have witnessed first-hand a number of reactors in herds and a full breakdown and clear out of herds whose test for TB within the previous 12 months was clear. I have seen first-hand how quickly this disease can spread. I know of a number of genuine farmers, in particular one who has a substantial farm and has not had a reactor for ten to 15 years. The previous reactor he had was for brucellosis rather than TB. Given a contiguous outbreak, which was only a minor one, his herd has had numerous rounds of test. There should be a little bit of flexibility. Unfortunately, he has medical issues of his own at the moment, so it has caused huge concern.

Since the 1950s, the argument has been whether the system of testing should be changed to blood or otherwise but the Department seems to be getting on top of it because of the strict regime. However, there needs to be a little bit of flexibility.

Even though a herd has not had a TB reactor for ten, 15 or 20 years and complies with all the regulations, it is penalised and subjected to the full rigors of the changes the Department brought in last year because of a relatively minor outbreak in an adjoining herd. Will the Minister consider a little bit of flexibility for farmers with genuine cases? We all know of cases but I mention one in particular.

Photo of Shane McEnteeShane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Department is always open to suggestions. When I got a telephone call from a man from Kilkenny about the new practices, coming from a farming background, I was a little bit shocked in one way. However, what has shocked me all my life since I was 14 years old and testing cattle, is that we have not got rid of TB. Given that we have got the figures down to such a small number, now is the time to really put the boot in to get rid of it altogether. They have been able to eradicate TB completely in other countries and we can do so too. It will cause a bit of concern for certain farmers, such as the man about whom Deputy Moynihan spoke. If a farmer's herd goes down and if the herd on the adjoining farm has not been tested for almost ten months and it has spread to that herd, if that farmers sells his cattle in the mart, it will spread further.

If more than two cattle are infected on a farm and if the herds on neighbouring farms have not been tested within the past four months, they are asked to test. I know there are pregnancies with cattle about to calf. However, it is about education. The farming organisations have agreed with it.

We probably should have spread the word more as to what was happening. Getting rid of TB is achievable. The scourge of any farmer's life is rounding up cattle, putting them in a crush and TB testing them only to find the next day that an animal has aborted or whatever. We have a great opportunity. Although it will cause inconvenience, we should do it.

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Not only have I seen cattle being rounded up and put in a crush, I have seen entire herds being rounded up and being crushed on the lorry because of TB. I know at first hand exactly what the Minister of State is talking about. If a farmer has been tested in late November-early December and has not had a history of TB or of animals being brought in without having had all the tests and has been clear for 15 to 20 years, because of the four month rule and a minor outbreak contiguous to him, his herd must be tested. A little bit of sense is needed.