Beef cattle. Picture: Cliff Donaldson
The Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) is urging farmers to respond to DAERA’s public consultation on options for potential wildlife intervention to help tackle bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Northern Ireland. The consultation deadline is Friday 9 October 2026, 5pm.
The consultation focuses on how Northern Ireland should address the role of badgers in the maintenance and spread of bTB, alongside wider disease control measures.
The consultation invites views on three key potential wildlife intervention approaches:
- Non-selective culling
- Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR)
- Vaccination only.
The consultation also covers two different methods of badger capture within these approaches – the use of baited cages and the use of stopped restraints. DAERA have provided a cost-benefit analysis for all options which is available to view on the consultation webpage.
The bTB consultation also invites comments on the wider Blueprint for Eradication and proposals relating to licensed lay vaccination of badgers. A previously unavailable scientific report referenced within the consultation documentation has now been made available on the consultation webpage, alongside an analysis of available scientific evidence.
For further information or to respond to the consultation, visit www.daera-ni.gov.uk/consultations or email TB.Consultation@daera-ni.gov.uk.
