Wildlife control reform needed to tackle damaging bovine TB on farms finds Laois man

The reform in wildlife control is one of the steps identified in research on eradicating bovine TB to be presented by Laois farmer and former Macra President John Keane at the prestigious Nuffield Ireland conference.

The Errill man will present the findings of his Nuffield Ireland Scholarship research at the annual Nuffield Ireland Conference in the Horse and Jockey Hotel, Thurles on Friday, November 14.

A dairy and beef farmer, John’s research explored the complex challenge of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication in Ireland.

“The findings of his Nuffield study call for a renewed national commitment to eliminate bTB and highlight the need for reform in wildlife control, investment in agricultural technologies, and adoption of international best practices in biosecurity and cattle movement,” said a statement issued to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Teagasc says badgers have been shown to play an important role in spreading bTB to cattle. It says removal and vaccination are two ways to address this issue. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

The Department of Agriculture says that in recent years there has been a significant increase in bTB levels nationally, over 6,000 farm families were affected by a bTB outbreak in 2024 and herd incidence increased from 4.31% in 2002 to 6.04% in 2024. This is leading to financial and emotional stress for farmers who have suffered a bTB outbreak and for those who are living in fear of having a bTB outbreak.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon, recently published an eradication plan which includes five measures and 30 actions to address and over time reduce the current high disease.

Mr Keane graduated from University College Dublin with a BSc in Dairy Business in 2014. He then travelled to New Zealand to work in agriculture and broaden his experiences. Since returning home to full-time farming in 2016, he has been an active member of discussion groups, Macra na Feirme, and his local GAA club. 

He served as national president of Macra from 2021 to 2023.

The Nuffield Ireland conference, will feature a fireside chat with Laura Burke, Director General of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and will hear presentations from five returning Nuffield Ireland Scholars, including John Keane.

Joe Leonard, Chair of Nuffield Ireland, spoke about this year’s conference.

“This year’s conference theme, ‘Cultivating Opportunities from Obstacles’, reflects the resilience, innovation, and leadership that define the Nuffield Scholar community. It also speaks directly to the heart of what Nuffield is about - turning challenges into leadership opportunities. Our scholars have travelled the world to bring back insights that will help shape the future of Irish agriculture.

“Our annual conference is open to all who have an interest in the future of agriculture and food, not just Nuffield alumni and stakeholders. We’re proud to host this event and invite everyone with a stake in farming, food, and rural development to join the conversation,” he said.

One of the presenting scholars will also be selected by attendees at the conference to receive the Padraig Walshe award, named in honour of the late agri-leader and Nuffield Scholar, Padraig Walshe. In addition to hearing the research findings from returning

Nuffield 2024 scholars, attendees will have the opportunity to be introduced to the successful candidates for 2026.

Conference details and tickets at www.nuffield.ie/nuffield-conference/