Defra is now proposing to
impose a zero tolerance policy on English farmers with overdue herd tests. David Williams, chairman of the Badger Trust,
said: “Overdue tests have been a scandal for decades. The cattle industry has
stubbornly resisted sensible restrictions on cattle management since the
catastrophic rise in bTB began in the early 1990s. Farmers used badgers as
scapegoats while they dug their heels in against better regulation of markets
and abattoirs, more frequent and improved testing, pre-movement testing and
comprehensive biosecurity on farms.
David Williams added: “If the
measures we have listed here had been in place when the cattle toll averaged a
thousand a year it would never have risen to its present level of almost
30,000.
I remember being chided by the NFU for having the temerity to suggest in a debate, at which I spoke during the 2010 Game Fair, that badgers are often used as an excuse for bad husbandry.
I remember being chided by the NFU for having the temerity to suggest in a debate, at which I spoke during the 2010 Game Fair, that badgers are often used as an excuse for bad husbandry.
From next year farmers who have not arranged for bTB surveillance and check tests to be carried out by the due date will face cuts to their subsidies. The level of reduction will depend on the length of time the test was overdue.
The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Owen Paterson, admitted in a Commons statement on November 28th that he was addressing a number of “long-standing weaknesses in our bovine TB controls”. Some of these weaknesses were strengthened a year ago, but only at the insistence of the EU. They included annual testing in the south west of England and zoning restrictions.
He proposes consultations on various proposals rather than acting on any of them – action that should have been taken years ago. He also proposes the pre-movement testing exemption for movements of cattle to and from common land. Also, the lifting of bovine TB restrictions on parts of a restricted holding could be phased out. In future the whole of a holding would be either restricted or officially TB free at any one time. Farmers would be “encouraged” to share details of the disease history of any cattle they sell so buyers would be finally better able to manage any disease risks.
BIOSECURITY STUDY
Northern Ireland has published the results of a two-year study of farm biosecurity measures to assess badger- and cattle-related risk factors for bovine TB breakdowns and the associated biosecurity measures. It recommends further investigation of specific areas such as the potential role of contiguous spread across farm boundaries and greater exploration of the role of cattle movement is recommended. The report also says farmers should be encouraged to use established biosecurity measures to separate badgers and cattle. The majority of farm boundaries in the study area would have facilitated nose-to-nose contact with cattle on neighbouring farms and the survey team recommends closed herds or pre- and/or post- movement bTB testing and isolation of purchased animals.
ALPACAS AND LLAMAS
In yet another much-needed improvement Defra is “seeking the views” of alpaca and llama owners by January 10th 2014 about how more could be done to prevent the spread of bovine TB in and among herds, but any measures will still only be voluntary, so failing to close yet another gap in security.
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