Cross-border research project aims to tackle bovine TB

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

An all-island initiative to tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is taking place as scientists work towards eradicating the disease.

BTB incidence levels across Ireland are high, with 6 per cent of herds in the Republic and 11 per cent of herds in Northern Ireland affected, with the disease imposing a significant burden on both farmers and government.

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) Minister Andrew Muir has previously revealed the spend in Northern Ireland on bTB compensation for the 2025/2026 financial year is over €64.6 million (£56 million).

A research symposium is bringing together officials, scientists and academics from both North and South, working across animal health science to share insights and help to inform policymakers tasked with the eradication of bTB.

Future collaboration on this shared problem will yield further benefits

It is the second such meeting after an inaugural event held in Celbridge, Co Kildare, in December 2024.

Mr Muir said North-South collaboration has “yielded important insights into TB persistence and spread”.

“Future collaboration on this shared problem will yield further benefits and will contribute to the successful delivery of many key objectives detailed in the TB Partnership Steering Group’s Blueprint for TB Eradication, which I launched in April last year,” he said.

Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon welcomed the second all-island research symposium on bovine tuberculosis.

He said: “This collaborative approach to TB research will create synergies which will streamline research efforts providing evidence for future policy interventions necessary for the eradication of bovine TB”.