Preasráitis

Bovine TB (bTB) Action Plan Changes to the bTB programme from 13 April 2026

Ó: An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara
Foilsithe: 15 Aibreán 2026
An t-eolas is déanaí: 15 Aibreán 2026

Background

For the majority of herds who are currently not restricted with bTB, there will be no change to testing requirements. This note outlines testing and movement requirements for the movement of various animal classes and the testing requirements for cattle entering different types of cattle enterprises.

Types of testing and movement requirements for the movement of various animal classes

Tyes of Testing and Movement	Testing and Movement Requirements
A 30-day pre movement test	All dairy breed cow movements to dairy and suckler herds Beef breed cows movements to dairy and suckler herds where the animal has not been tested in the last 6 months and the herd that is moving them out has not been tested within the last six months All male cattle > 36 months old to herds other than CFUs that have not been tested in the last 6 months and the herd that is moving them out has not been tested within the last six months Movements of heifers coming home from contract rearing.
Animals which must have been tested in the last six months and the herd that is moving them out has been tested within the last six months	All beef breed cows moving to all herds other than CFUs All male cattle > 36 months old moving to all herds other than CFUs Dairy cows moving to non-breeding drystock farms (these dairy cows will be restricted to the herd they move into for life)
Animals which can move for up to 12 months after the herd test, with no need for additional testing	All male cattle > 42 days and less than 36 months of age. All non-calved female cattle > 42 days Beef and dairy cows and male cattle > 36 months may be sold to CFUs for 12 months after the herd test.
Gamma Interferon Test (GIF) testing	GIF testing will be mandatory in breeding herds of 80 cows or more where 5% of the exposed cohort test positive or 10 reactors, whichever is the lesser GIF testing may continue to be applied in herds where these conditions do not apply, but the epidemiological situation suggests cattle to cattle transmission has taken place.
Relapse H herds	Herds with three or more standard reactors in a breakdown where there are reactors present in the same exposed cohort that were previously in a H breakdown in that herd and at least one of the reactors at the relapse breakdown was present as part of the exposed cohort at the previous H breakdown will require testing at six monthly intervals for a period of three years post derestriction.

With the exception of the requirement for a 30-day pre-movement test for the movement of dairy breed cows to a dairy or suckler herd, all the other pre-movement testing requirements are similar to the existing testing requirements. The change which has impacted on what herds can purchase what cows/males over 36 months has been the removal of the 30-day post-movement test.

2. Testing requirements for cattle entering various cattle enterprises

Cattle Enterprise	Testing Requirements
Dairy farmers	All dairy breed cows purchased must be within 30 days of a TB test All female cattle returning from a contract rearing herd must be within 30 days of a TB test All female cattle entering a contract rearing herd must be within 30 days of a TB test if cattle from more than one herd is being contract reared All male cattle > 42 days and less than 36 months of age and all non-calved female cattle >42 days must be within 12 months of a herd test All male cattle > 36 months of age must be tested in the last six months and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test.
Suckler farmers	All suckler cows must be tested in the last 6 months and the seller herd must be tested in the last 6 months or alternatively within a 30-day test All non calved replacement females and all male cattle less than 36 months of age must be within 12 months of a herd test All male cattle > 36 months of age must be tested in the last six months and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test.
Store / fattening farms	All male cattle between 42 days and 36 months of age must be within a 12 months of a herd test All non-calved female cattle > than 42 days of age must be within 12 months of a herd test Beef breed cows must be tested in the last six months and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test. Dairy breed cows must be tested in the last six months and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test. However, there must be no breeding cows in these herds. All male cattle > 36 months of age must be tested in the last six months and the seller herd must be tested in the last six months, or alternatively within a 30-day test.
Controlled Finishing Units	All cattle classes must be within 12 months of a herd test.

Definitions:

High-risk (H) breakdown Three or more skin reactors in the one breakdown.

Exposed cohort are animals who have tested negative to a bTB test but are or were in the same management group as reactor animals at the time of breakdown. For example, an outbreak in dairy cows on a dairy farm, the exposed cohort is the cows in the milking cow group at the time of the outbreak. The exposed cohort would exclude replacement heifers or calves present at the breakdown test if there were no reactors in those groups of animals.

Relapse H herd is a herd with three or more reactors in a breakdown where there are reactors present in the same exposed cohort that were previously in a H breakdown in that herd, and at least one of the reactors at the relapse breakdown was present as part of the exposed cohort in the previous H breakdown.

For further information and updates on the bTB programme visit www.bovinetb.ie.

Bovine TB (bTB) Action Plan Changes to the bTB programme from 13 April 2026

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