Significant number of cattle culled locally under TB eradication scheme

Latest figures show that over 5,000 cattle were culled under TB eradication scheme in counties Westmeath and Roscommon over the last five years.

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The official figures were supplied to Cavan/Monaghan Sinn Fein Deputy Matt Carthy on foot of a parliamentary question.

Department guidance explain that the figures are taken from the Animal Health Computer System (AHCS) and do not include payments that may have been made manually.

They further add that the figures include animals removed following a herd depopulation. Such animals may not have tested positive but were removed for disease eradication purposes.

From 2015-2019 inclusive there were 3,100 cattle culled under the scheme in County Westmeath. The figures vary somewhat from year to year, veering from a low of 461 in 2019 to a high of 862 in 2017.

Likewise in Roscommon– which had a total of 2,268 cattle culled - there was a low of 390 in 2016 with a high of 538 in 2019.

“Crucially farmers need to be seen as partners in resolving the TB issue,” stressed Deputy Carthy, “as opposed to being the people who take the blame or carry the disproportionate amount of the costs or repercussions. There needs to be better dialogue between the Department and farmers in terms of finding a solution.”