Stricter bovine TB measures in UK for better opportunities

 

 

Proposals to tighten up the rules on tackling bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle have been welcomed by the UK Animal Health as paving the way for new prospects for farmers.

 

Rural Affairs Minster Elin Jones has launched an eight week consultation on legislation to strengthen the programme to eradicate bovine TB by allowing Welsh ministers to amend existing legislation on pre-movement testing of cattle - which is paid for by farmers - and link compensation to good farming practice.

 

New policy changes to TB-related movement controls could help owners of TB-restricted cattle in Wales realise practical and financial benefits by providing them with more options for moving and trading animals.

 

Animal Health, which is the UK government's executive agency, says the changes could help owners of TB-restricted cattle in Wales to realise practical and financial benefits by providing them with more options for moving and trading animals.

 

Jones said the proposals updated existing policies and tightened up on their delivery. Measures already implemented included reducing the number of overdue TB tests by 99%, removing infected cattle quickly and introducing the TB Health Check Wales which aimed to test all cattle in Wales by December 31 in order to get a better understanding of the scale and location of the disease.

 

In addition, the health check, which ends on December 31, had been crucial in identifying and removing infection early and in stopping the disease gaining a foothold in more areas across Wales.

 

Jones notes that all herds in Wales will also be subject to an annual test and compulsory pre-movement test in 2010, but there is still more to be done to bear down on this disease.

 

Dr Nick Coulson, veterinary and technical services director for Animal Health, said the proposed changes could allow owners and farmers affected by TB restrictions to achieve more competitive prices for their animals, and avoid some of the practical problems created by movement controls.

 

The new options include Approved Quarantine Units, which would act as holding and testing sites for calves up to 10 months old from TB restricted herds - with the ultimate aim of them regaining TB free status.

 

Similarly, TB Isolation Units will allow farmers under TB restrictions to separate and isolate groups of cattle from their herds for further testing. These will be particularly useful to owners of high value or pedigree animals, including stock bulls, and calves from dairy farms.

 

In addition, Animal Health is overseeing changes to existing Approved Finishing Units so that only facilities with wildlife proof housing and without grazing will be permitted. Cattle at these facilities will only need to be tested every six months - as opposed to 90 day intervals – reducing the burden for operators.