Possibility of testing deer for TB

THE possibility of having sample tests carried out on deer in an effort to ascertain if they contribute to the spread of tuberculosis in the cattle herd was raised in the Dáil.

Fine Gael TD Paul Connaughton asked Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan if she will carry out such a procedure.

Ms Coughlan said issues relating to wild deer are the responsibility of the Parks and Wildlife Divisions of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

“My department does not operate an official programme for the eradication of tuberculosis in deer and therefore does not routinely test or sample deer herds for TB.

“It does, however, provide on-going advice to keepers on disease control measures and bio security in relation to wildlife, including deer. My department also provides advice and assistance to farmers and their veterinary practitioners who may experience a TB problem in farmed deer,” she said.

However, Ms Coughlan said that when an outbreak of TB is identified in a cattle herd, an epidemiological investigation is carried out by her department.

The purpose is to identify the sources of the infection and provide advice to the farmer.

“These investigations reveal that deer are very infrequently implicated in bovine TB outbreaks,” she said.

Ms Coughlan referred to situations where epidemiological investigations indicate that the source of TB infection in bovines may be wild deer. In such cases staff from her department liaises with National Parks and Wildlife Service personnel with a view to taking samples from any wild deer that may be culled in the area.

Ms Coughlan said the National Parks and Wildlife Service routinely issue licences, under different categories to shoot deer. One licence category is for a farmer who suspects that deer are spreading disease to his livestock herd.

“I understand that one of the conditions applicable to such a licence is that all animals shot under the licence must have a post-mortem.

“My department supports such licence applications by farmers and examines relevant post-mortem samples for TB,” she said.