‘You Can’t Describe The Loss’ — Northern Ireland Farmers Face Emotional and Financial Toll From Bovine TB

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) continues to inflict heavy emotional and financial damage on livestock farmers across Northern Ireland. A 12-week consultation launched by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) in early July seeks public views on wildlife interventions — including culling, test-and-vaccinate-or-remove (TVR), and vaccination-only approaches — as part of the Blueprint for Bovine TB Eradication.

Emotional and Economic Impact

Breeders and farmers describe the loss of infected cattle as devastating. Rachel Leader, a pedigree breeder, said losing animals that represent generations of breeding is "mind‑boggling" and that "you can't describe the loss when you do lose your cattle." The emotional toll comes alongside serious financial consequences: DAERA expects the overall bill for tackling bTB to exceed £70m this year, with roughly £54m — more than three-quarters — going on compensation payments to farmers.

"It's the impact of losing pedigree Herefords, the family line, the genetic breeding that we've had to build up... She would have been one of our show animals for Balmoral, so we were devastated." — Rachel Leader

What DAERA Is Proposing

The consultation, which runs until 25 September, sets out three principal wildlife-intervention options:

• Non-Selective Culling — Controlled shooting of free-roaming, cage-trapped or snare-captured badgers by trained marksmen.
• Test And Vaccinate Or Remove (TVR) — Trap and test badgers; vaccinate and microchip those that test negative and humanely euthanise those that test positive.
• Vaccination Only — Vaccinate badgers in defined areas without prior testing.

DAERA emphasises there is currently "no preferred option" and that any decision will form part of a comprehensive, evidence-based strategy. Chief Veterinary Officer Brian Dooher has called bTB a "complex problem" requiring action across three pillars: Cattle, People and Wildlife.

Farmers’ Concerns: Testing, Traceability and Bloodlines

Farmers say current testing and traceability need improvement. Conor McVeigh described the traditional skin test as "completely out of date" and welcomed the introduction of blood tests — though they are not yet mandatory. Many breeders lament losing multi-generation bloodlines and show prospects when animals are removed after a TB incident.

Mark Moore, who faced an outbreak five years ago that closed his herd for three months, urged monitoring of badger populations and welcomed any measures that would help control the disease. Robert Miller, affected for the first time in 35 years, described the practical and financial disruption of having animals grounded until clear tests were achieved.

Context and Next Steps

Cattle testing in Northern Ireland has been compulsory since the 1950s. Compensation is paid on a full market-value basis, but DAERA has consulted on reducing that level of payment — a proposal that farmers say they may legally challenge. Previous attempts to authorize badger culls have faced legal hurdles; a former minister's order was quashed by the High Court.

The consultation follows a departmental review delivered in 2024 and the publication of a blueprint for eradication last year. While bTB incidence has fallen recently, it remains close to 10% of the national herd, keeping the issue at the top of farming and rural-policy agendas.

DAERA is inviting responses until 25 September as it weighs scientific evidence, practical considerations and the strong feelings communities hold about wildlife interventions.

Source: BBC reporting and DAERA consultation materials.