Bovine TB crisis comes at £111m annual cost to economy - McAleer
Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer has said the projected £111 million annual cost of bovine TB to the economy, alongside more than 22,000 cattle being compulsorily removed from farms each year, underlines the urgent need for action to tackle the disease.
The party's agriculture spokesperson has said: ''The scale of the bovine TB challenge facing the north is stark.
''A recent DAERA Badger Intervention Options Analysis Paper projects that bovine TB will cost the our economy around £111 million annually, with more than 22,000 cattle compulsorily removed from farms each year.
''These are staggering figures that highlight the devastating impact the disease continues to have on farming families, rural communities and the wider economy.
''The scale of the challenge demands decisive action.
''I would urge all farmers to respond to DAERA’s public consultation on bovine TB eradication.''