Bovine TB
Posted by Hugo Swire, MP for East Devon, at 11:22, Thu 7 August 2008:
I have become very concerned about Bovine TB which is now an extremely serious problem in Devon. There were 883 incidences of the disease from January to April this year alone and prevalence of TB in cattle is doubling every 4½ years. Concerted action is desperately needed now to arrest this trend which is having a devastating impact on our farmers and farming industry. The extra resources that the Government has promised to make available for vaccine development should of course be welcomed but in reality the vaccination will not be available until 2014 at the earliest. A comprehensive package of measures is required which address both cattle to cattle transmission (including greater use of the gamma interferon test in hot-spot areas) and the reservoir of infection in wildlife. It is worth remembering that infected badgers are not simply responsible for the majority of TB breakdowns in cattle – they suffer a slow and painful death which should oblige the Government to treat this as a serious animal welfare issue in its own right. On current projections TB will account for 40,000 cattle this year and over £300 million per annum to the public purse by 2012/13. The ideal situation would be to see healthy wildlife alongside healthy cattle but there is nothing to suggest that the current policy will deliver either. I’m worried that the plight of Devon farmers has been overlooked and that their needs and concerns are not being properly addressed.
I would be interested to hear your views on this issue.
Comments
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Posted by Brian Sussex, 11:32, Thu 7 August 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
It is a very real worry. My view is that efforts should be made to reduce the badger population in TB hotspot areas.
Posted by Christian Pilling, 12:39, Thu 7 August 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Well I am confused as in areas where there have been Badger culls it seems not have been worthwhile. http://www.stopthecull.info/ I grew up on a farm in Wales and am not against it, it just it doesn't seem worth the money. regards
Posted by Martyn Johnston, 15:03, Thu 7 August 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
Cases of specific strains of BTb have travelled many miles across the country. Badgers don't travel this far; so this demonstrates to me that the 'primary' source of infection is cattle to cattle. I'm afraid the farmers seem desparate to use the badger as a scapegoat for a problem that will not be helped by killing our wildlife.
Posted by Simon Waters, 23:01, Thu 7 August 2008: (Is this post abusive?) #
I was surprised at the comment about the majority of TB breakdowns being due to badgers. Even DEFRAs modellers say between 26% and 85% are not caused by cattle movement, so "majority" suggests they have improved the numbers a lot.
The science I've read says that cattle moving onto farms are the most significant cause of TB infections. The Irish experience suggests badgers might account for 15% of Bovine TB, but remember the badgers are getting infected from somewhere. As others have commented badgers don't travel far (DEFRA knows this from genetic testing of badgers).
Indeed DEFRA analysis in 2000 (SE3003) said the presence of badgers wasn't significant in the risk of breakdown.
I fear that the government bailing out farmers whose cattle get infected destroys any incentive they have to provide better animal welfare and disease controls. If they had to insure themselves, the insurers would mandate appropriate controls. Post movement testing, protection of feed stores, cleaning of housing etc.
The pre-movement testing regime sounds strict, till you read the list of exemptions. Yet case studies repeatedly show this is as the most common cause of TB breakdown.