November 13,2003

Movement of Cattle in Britain Could be Restricted

The movement of cattle in Britain could be restricted under government plans to eradicate bovine tuberculosis. The minister responsible for animal health, Ben Bradshaw, said that farmers would be consulted on the issue soon. He said he expected opposition from some following his decision to stop killing badgers, which are suspected of spreading the disease. His comments were made on Radio 4's Farming Today This Week programme.

Farmers have described the decision to halt badger culling in areas surrounding farms where there have been outbreaks of bovine TB as "a dereliction of duty". It is estimated that bovine TB could cost taxpayers up to GBP1 billion in compensation to UK farmers. Just last month (OCT03), vets ordered the slaughter of an entire herd of cattle on a farm in Lanarkshire following an outbreak of the disease. Cases are mostly dealt with by killing only the infected animals and monitoring the rest. But vets have warned of the potential for an epidemic unless farmers exercise the utmost caution when buying animals from high-risk areas. Farmers are supposed to receive the market value for an animal hit with TB.

Mr Bradshaw suspended the culling of badgers earlier this week after new tests suggested it was counterproductive in the battle against bovine TB. The trials found that when carried out in reaction to a TB outbreak, the practice led to an increase in the disease. Anthony Gibson, of the National Farmers' Union in south-west England, says his members feel as if they are being left with no solution to a problem that is ruining their lives and businesses. He says, "What is needed is more control of infected badgers, not less."