Alarm at new plans to fight bovine TB crisis
NEW tabular payments for slaughtered cattle and an end to badger trapping are among a new set of proposals to tackle the bovine TB crisis in Wales.
Farmers may also face longer herd lockdowns as the Welsh Government aims to cement long-term progress and tackle a disease uptick in north Wales.
The proposals, contained in a “refreshed” TB Eradication Programme, have alarmed farm leaders, who say they are “deeply frustrated” by the current approach which “sees politics, all too often, overriding the science”.
The slaughter of 10,700 cattle over the past 12 months was not a sign of acceptable progress, said NFU Cymru.
New TB incidents have fallen 48% since 2009 but a recent increase in herd breakdowns, largely linked to cattle movements, could now herald tighter pre-movement testing.
Currently, farms with herds that test clear after the second of two shortinterval tests can use the second reading as a movement test.
Under proposals set out in a 12-week consultation, the farm will now need another clear test 60 days later before it can move cattle.
A move to tabular payments, for cattle slaughtered as a result of TB, is also proposed. A similar system was introduced in England 10 years ago.
Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said this will ensure payments are “fair and proportionate”, and “reflects the financial resources available”.
Such a move is likely to penalise breeders as tabular payments struggle to reflect the true value of the animal’s individual merits, which can only be assessed by an expert valuer.
Neither do they cover consequential losses, such as loss of production and extra feeding costs, suffered by the farms on lockdown.
NFU Cymru president John Davies said reducing compensation was not the best way to tackle rising budget costs.
He said: “We are absolutely clear that the only way to reduce any overspend is to ensure the disease is controlled quickly and effectively.
“We are deeply frustrated that Welsh
Government refuses to learn the lessons from England, and all the other countries in the world, who have successfully tackled this disease through a comprehensive TB eradication strategy.
“Welsh Government appears to be unique in its thinking that this disease can be eradicated without proactively dealing with diseased animals in both cattle and wildlife populations.”
Under the new proposals, badger trap-and-test work in persistent herd breakdowns will be phased out from this year.
This was blamed on the “limited sample size” and short follow-up period that provide “limited meaningful results”.
Work will be completed on existing farms but new ones will not be recruited into the process.
The money saved will see a further £100,000 made available initially for expanding badger vaccination across Wales.
Other proposals include:
Informed Purchasing to encourage farmers to provide TB information about cattle they are selling;
a review of the pre-movement skin test amid concerns it is not sensitive enough;
a ban on the feeding of raw milk to livestock on dairy farms under restrictions to prevent TB spreading from cows to youngstock. Currently this practice is only advisory;
a review of options for extra veterinary capacity for TB testing;
“TB Champions” to advise farmers and to help them through TB breakdowns. This will involve a new taskand-finish group; and
continuation of the All Wales Badger Found Dead Survey.
Mrs Griffiths said a key aim of the programme is the early identification of TB infection through improved diagnostics.
Dr Christianne Glossop, Wales’s chief vet, added: “We continue to support the development of a deployable cattle TB vaccine with a test to differentiate infected from vaccinated animals to be in place by 2025.
“Cattle vaccination has the potential to become a powerful tool in the battle against the disease and we will be engaging with the TB Centre of Excellence
to plan its most appropriate deployment in Wales.”
FUW Animal Health and Welfare Committee chairman Ian Lloyd said: “With the incidences of TB increasing in low-tb areas in Wales, it is frustrating that the only response the Welsh Government has to tackle this issue is with increasing cattle controls and with greater testing burdens being placed upon our hardworking farming families.
“There is increasing concern about the mental health and wellbeing of our members and this latest statement will do little to alleviate the emotional and financial strains borne by our farmers.
“It is disappointing to see yet another consultation reviewing payments for cattle compulsorily purchased due to TB.
“The union has made its views on this matter clear – no farmer should be over or under-compensated for such cattle. Any moves to reduce the payments given to farmers will be vociferously opposed by the FUW.”
Dr Hazel Wright, FUW senior policy officer, added: “While the FUW recognises that rapid, accurate and early identification of disease is a key component of a disease eradication programme, it is disappointing – but not surprising – that the programme aims to simultaneously ‘strengthen TB controls’ whilst phasing out the badger trap-and-test work in persistent breakdown herds.
“The FUW maintains that a holistic approach to TB is needed in order to stamp out all sources of infection. This latest statement continues to chase the disease whilst stepping down efforts to address a significant contributor to the spread of infection.
“As TB vaccine trials continue in England, it is important to be realistic in the expectation on the effects of a vaccine with regards to disease control. With a workable vaccine and delivery strategy potentially being many years away, the current war on TB must use all available methods in achieving real positive results now.”
Mr Lloyd added: “The Welsh Government admits that TB controls for cattle have been stepped up, but the figures demonstrate this one-sided approach has had negligible impacts across vast areas of Wales.”