Effect of cattle enterprise type on the rate of disclosure of TB reactors and the geographical distribution of the Irish cattle population.

Abstract

End of project ReportThe prevalence of tuberculin reactors in the Irish cattle population has remained constant over the past 20 years. During each year some 30,000 reactors have been identified annually. • A study of the national cattle herd, over a 6-year period (1988-1993), was undertaken to determine the association between enterprise type and the prevalence of tuberculin reactors adjusted for herd size and geographical region. • The data were examined on a herd (n=165,000) basis according to the following enterprise types: Dairy - herds with a milk ring test result and no cows eligible for beef cow premia in 1993; Suckler - herds eligible for beef cow premia; Drystock - herds without cows but with other cattle. Other - herds with cows but not categorised as dairy or beef. • Herd size (no. of cattle) was categorised as: Small (<30), Medium (30 to 59), Large (60 to 99) and Very large (>100). Regional categorisation was: West (Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare), South West (Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Waterford and South Tipperary), East (Louth, Meath, Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Wexford) and Midland (Cavan, Monaghan, Longford, Westmeath, Offaly, Laois, Kilkenny, Carlow and North Tipperary). • Enterprise type had no effect on the prevalence of tuberculin reactors for any herd size. The number of tuberculin reactors annually per 1000 animals was greatest in the Midland (7.3) and lowest in the South West (3.8). • It is concluded that the incidence of tuberculin reactors was independent of enterprise type within each of the four regions.European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF