Bovine Tuberculosis

Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is a highly infectious disease of cattle caused by a bacterium called Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). M. bovis can cause disease in other domestic or wild animals and in humans.

Relevant articles

Bovine TB in dairy herds: Taking action to reduce the risk of breakdown - Teagasc Daily Article August 2024
TB in cattle and what you need to know - Beef Edge podcast December 2020
TB Forgotten but not gone! - November 2020

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, TB Leaflets, Videos and Posters

Leaflets | Videos | Posters

Leaflets

What is Bovine TB ? (pdf)
How can I reduce the risk of bovine TB to my cattle? (pdf)
How does the bovine TB skin test work? (pdf)
How does the bovine TB Gamma Interferon test work? (pdf)
How is bovine TB detected at slaughter? (pdf)
Wildlife and bovine TB (pdf)

Videos

Learn how to Clean and Disinfect your farm after an outbreak of TB
Reduce the risk of having TB on your farm. In this video find out how to clean and disinfect housing and handling facilities to an acceptable standard.
TB Reactors that don’t have visible lesions
Philip Breslin, a senior vet in the DAFM TB 2030 eradication programme, explains how TB reactor cattle may not have visible lesions when slaughtered in the factory.
What are bovine TB tests and how do they work
In this step by step guide learn about bovine TB tests in Ireland. This video shows how tests are used to diagnose TB in cattle and how they work
Compensation after a Bovine TB Breakdown
Find out what compensation is available to you after a TB Breakdown and how to apply for this compensation.
What happens if my Herd has a Bovine TB Breakdown
Watch what happens to your herd after a positive bovine tuberculosis (bovineTB) test and the actions that DAFM will take to help clear your herd of TB.
How to prevent your herd having further bovine TB breakdowns
This video explains how bovine TB is left behind in herds that have gone clear and what farmers can do to reduce the risk of TB residual infection
How to stop TB from spreading between herds
Learn how to prevent bovine TB from breaking out in your herd. In this video find out how the disease is transmitted by the movement of animals, for example, by buying in cattle.
How to protect your herd from TB in Badgers and other Wildlife in Ireland
This video explains how bovine tuberculosis (BovineTB) is spread from wildlife in Ireland, including badgers to your farm.Find out how to protect your herd from infected wildlife, including how to spot badger activity.

Posters

View these posters below - Know the risk when you buy cattle | Protect your herd from residual TB infection | Protect your herd from wildlife