Programme Overview

In recent years we have seen a significant increase in bTB levels nationally. This is leading to stress for farmers who have suffered a bTB outbreak and for those who are living in fear of having a TB outbreak. It cannot be left to continue unchecked

It is important to protect all farm families from bTB by supporting farmers in reducing the risk of a bTB outbreak and providing the necessary tools and supports to farmers to deal with a bTB outbreak.

The Bovine TB Programme includes targeted measures to address the increasing levels of bTB and support farmers to reduce risks and strengthen on-farm biosecurity

There are five high-level measures and 30 actions in the Plan based on scientific research, evidence and veterinary expertise:

1. Support herds free of bTB to remain free

2. Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bTB

3. Detect and eliminate bTB infection as early as possible in herds with a bTB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown

4. Help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity

5. Reduce the impact of known high-risk animals in spreading bTB

Updates to the bTB eradication programme will mean you will see changes on how cattle move through livestock marts.

The leaflets below provide important information on changes to the bTB eradication programme and how cattle move through livestock marts. The leaflets also summarise the new testing and movement requirements.

Selling your Cattle: When your cattle are presented for sale, they will be grouped by Animal Identification & Movement (AIM) based on the destination they can be moved to. The animal details screen will show animal grouping on AIM through myAgfood.ie

Buying Cattle: Livestock marts will now be required to check with AIM that your herd is an eligible destination herd for animals you buy at the mart. If AIM notifies the mart that your herd is not an eligible destination, you will not be allowed to purchase those animals. Your herd may be eligible to buy from more than one group of animals. Your herd group is available on AIM through myAgfood.ie.

‘H’ Notification on Compliance Certificates and Mart Boards

What does a bovine identified as ‘H’ by the Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system mean?
It means this is a female animal aged 18 months or older that was present in an exposed cohort in a high-risk breakdown. A high-risk breakdown is 3 or more reactors in the one breakdown.

Where can I see the ‘H’ at Livestock Marts?
The ‘H’ will be displayed on the mart board.

Where can I see the ‘H’ on a Compliance Certificate?
When a generated compliance certificate contains a ‘H’ animal a notification will appear on the AIM screen.

It will say, ‘If a tag number is prefixed by ‘H’ it was in an exposed cohort in a high-risk breakdown’.

This notification will appear for the current herd when applying for the certificate and the destination herd when confirming the movement.

It is important to note, that if a ‘H’ animal is included on a compliance certificate, the letter ‘H’ will appear at the start of the compliance certificate number.
The information note explaining what ‘H’ means will appear on all compliance certificates