NEW FIELD trials to stop the spread of TB in cattle by vaccinating badgers rather than exterminating them is showing good results, according to the Department of Agriculture.
The number of Irish cattle affected by bovine TB has fallen by nearly 20 per cent this year.
The latest figures from the Department of Agriculture have also shown a significant fall in the number of “reactor” cattle this year up to the end of October.
In areas where the department killed off the badger population, the incidence of bovine TB dropped in the cattle herds, but this has caused outrage in animal welfare circles.
Badgers killed in the field trials carried out in areas where there have been high levels of TB in cattle have been found to have TB infection levels as high as 40 per cent.
A statement from the department said the research project with University College Dublin and the UK government’s department of agriculture on the efficacy of an orally delivered vaccine to badgers is “showing promising results”.
“If the field trial is successful and subsequently a national badger vaccination strategy is adopted, the need to remove TB-infected badgers will reduce as tuberculosis levels falls in both cattle and badgers.
“However, it will be some time before the benefits of a vaccine can be seen, and it is envisaged that the existing strategy will remain in place for some time.”
The battle to control the disease has intensified following the announcement some days ago by the EU that it has recognised Scotland as being free from the disease, giving it a trade competitive advantage. This was awarded because 99.9 per cent of herds in Scotland achieved TB-free status for six consecutive years.
In the Republic the number of herds restricted for TB was 5.9 per cent of herds tested in 2008. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have similar problems eradicating the disease.
Third-quarter figures showed the number of so-called reactors – cattle which fail the test – has fallen to 18,237 compared to 22,997 reactor cattle in the same period in 2008.
The figures reflect an improving situation in the 50-year fight to rid the national cattle herd of the disease which has cost the Irish taxpayer an estimated €1.5 billion and the industry probably twice that figure.