DARD-funded research, carried out by AFBI, has collated data of M. bovis isolates from cattle, and from badgers killed on the roads, while 'mapping' the different strain types. DARD initially refused to disclose the map, quoting public interest grounds.
However, this decision was subsequently overturned, after the MEP won an appeal.
Farming Life has been given exclusive access to the map (see Page 3) which features the various TB strains found in cattle as coloured circles and those found in road kill badgers as coloured stars. The same TB colour coding is used for both species.
In letters to the MEP, DARD staff point out that the research is ongoing and that it is not yet possible to reach definitive conclusions as to its significance.
However, Jim Allister is firmly of the view the information already collated should be profiled now.
"I believe it is in the public interest that this data should be published. This map illustrates the prevalence of various strain types of M. bovis across Northern Ireland.
"Crucially, the map confirms that there is a clear correlation in strain types being detected in cattle as in badgers," he told Farming Life.
"It speaks volumes that DARD would want to hide this information from the public, on the basis that this Department would rather bury its head in the sand than acknowledge there is a wildlife dimension to TB eradication.
"Farmers continue to lose out financially through disruption caused by an ineffective Government policy on TB control."
"Perhaps DARD will come clean on whether some form of badger cull or management strategy will go ahead."
In June of last year the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB, set up by DEFRA to investigated how bovine TB spread between cattle, badgers and other wildlife in Britain, reported that badger culling is unlikely to contribute positively, or cost effectively, to the control of cattle TB in Britain.
As a consequence of this the group recommended that that priority should be given to developing policies based on more rigorous application of control measures to cattle, in the absence of badger culling.