New lock-up for 8,000 extra contiguous herds

About 8,000 extra cattle herds will be temporarily restricted this year, following the Department of Agriculture decision to more strictly control movement from farms alongside herds with serious TB outbreaks.

The Department is also restricting movement of inconclusive reactor animals until they are eventually moved for slaughter.

IFA Animal Health Project Team Chairman John Waters has said the new TB eradication measures are unnecessary, costly and trade-prohibitive, and not required under EU regulation.