The incidence of TB in dairy herds

Superintendent veterinary inspector, Philip Breslin, from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, joins Emma-Louise Coffey on this week’s Dairy Edge podcast to discuss the incidence of TB in dairy herds in Ireland. Philip explains that the skin test remains the best method for diagnosis of TB in cattle, offering the most accurate number of positive incidents of TB with low levels of false positives (1 in 5,000). To reduce the risk of TB to your herd, farmers should aim to maintain a closed herd, consider culling older stock that may have been exposed to TB outbreak previously, ensure all boundary are fenced well and being vigilant to wildlife activity on your farm. Philip encourages farmers to be proactive in engaging and consulting with the Department of Agriculture where wildlife such as badgers are identified in order to vaccinate or remove the badger populations near to your herd. For more episodes from the Dairy Edge podcast go to the show page at: https://www.teagasc.ie/animals/dairy/the-dairy-edge-podcast/ The Dairy Edge is a co-production with LastCastMedia.com