UK government increases measures to combat bovine TB

Amendments to the rules on cattle movements are complemented with changes to compensation policy, including reduced payments for owners of TB-affected herds with overdue tests.

Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said: “We need to stop the spread of bTB, that last year led to the slaughter of 26,000 cattle and could cost the taxpayer £1bn over the next 10 years unless action is taken. These strengthened measures, alongside work to pilot badger culling, and the development of badger and cattle vaccines, aim to help control the disease and eventually eradicate it.​

 
“Farmers have shown their commitment to tackling this devastating disease, which is taking a terrible toll on their communities and businesses.”​

 
Changes aiming to cut the risk of untested cattle spreading the disease include the removal of an exemption allowing cattle held on a farm for under 30 days to be moved without being tested; the removal of pre-movement testing exemption for movements within ‘Sole Occupancy Authorities’ that have holdings in high- and low-risk TB areas; mandatory pre-movement testing for cattle moved from higher TB risk herds to agricultural shows where cattle are housed or are held there for more than 24 hours, and a reduction of compensation for owners of TB-affected herds if tests are overdue by more than 60 days.

Controls will also be tightened around premises linked to the disease, with no new Sole Occupancy Authorities, and no new Cattle Tracing System links between holdings in high and low TB risk areas approved after 1 July.

 
“The farming community has shown it is willing to shoulder its share of the burden to tackle bTB. There is already a comprehensive range of robust control measures for bTB in place, but we must continuously look for ways to tighten them if we are ever going to get on top of this devastating disease,”​ Paice added.

 
Defra is also introducing new compensation categories, including young pedigree beef and two new age bands for dairy calved animals, to make the system more transparent and remove some anomalies.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) recognised the necessity for change, but expressed concern over the new compensation system’s lack of flexibility. NFU chief farm policy adviser John Royle said: “While we fully agree with the need to get on top of – and eventually eradicate – this disease, we recognise that some of these changes are bound to cause consternation to those farming businesses directly affected by them.​

“The industry understands Defra’s plan to reduce compensation payments where TB tests are significantly overdue, but is keen to retain the flexibility currently within the system that allows tests to be delayed without penalty, particularly for animals away at summer grazing and for traced animals, subject to a veterinary risk assessment.”​

The union urged the government to make further changes to the compensation scheme, so that it “properly compensates the large majority of farmers who already comply fully with the onerous TB control measures in place”​, and to ensure that the new order does not place further burden on affected businesses.

“We also request that, before the recently announced measures are introduced on 1 July, a fair, consistent and transparent appeals process is put in place,”​ added Royle.