A recent study has suggested that the high rate of TB in deer in Wicklow is not spreading to other parts of the country. Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, revealed that the pilot survey found that 16% of deer in the Calary area of Wicklow were found to be carrying TB. The pilot study saw 103 deer shot by a licensed deer hunter and the carcasses were then analysed .Of these, 87 did not carry TB while 16 carcasses had “evidence of M. Bovis” which is a slow-growing, aerobic bacterium and the causative agent of tuberculosis in cattle.
The study does not suggest that TB in deer is nationwide – 17 wild deer in north Sligo, similar to the one carried out in Wicklow, found no evidence of infection with TB, although a small number of positive deer have been detected in isolated instances in different parts of the country. Recent reports also suggested that TB infection in badgers is also of concern and may well be the source of TB for both cattle and deer.
The Department of Agriculture has passed on the findings to the Irish Deer Management Forum and are waiting on their recommendations. Responding to a parliamentary question put forward by Deputy Sean Fleming, Minister Coveney stated, “My Department have emphasised at all times that the findings of this research project refer only to the Calary area of Co Wicklow and there is no suggestion or evidence to support any claim that these findings would be replicated in other areas.”
The parliamentary questions were put forth on behalf of the Wild Deer Association of Ireland who have since said, “Over the last four years 120,000 deer have been culled nationally by deer hunters, of those tested less than 1% tested positive for TB. “In October 2014 we advised the Department of Agriculture not to proceed with the Calary project investigating wild deer, as the project contained a number of serious flaws which would result in misleading findings and unnecessarily vilify deer while not helping farm families impacted by TB.”
Speaking to the Wicklow Voice, Andrew Doyle TD welcomed the study saying, “I wish to acknowledge the input from my colleagues, Ministers Coveney, Hayes and Humphries for their ongoing work to implement an action plan to bring the level of incidence of TB in cattle into line with national average. “I would also like to pay tribute to former Minister Deenihan who was instrumental in getting this study carried out.”
The Irish Farming Association has called for the implementation of a programme similar to the existing wildlife control programme. They have called for a “targeted reduction” in deer numbers surrounding TB outbreaks and a national management plan that reduces deer numbers to what is sustainable within their natural habitat.
