23 March 2011

2 minute read

Europe

“TB’s tentacles are creeping further and further in to dairy and beef herds up and down the country with breakdowns in England up by almost nine per cent on the year to 3,622 herds, while approximately 20 per cent of beef and dairy farms were under movement restrictions during 2010,” explains RABDF’s chairman, David Cotton.

“While the industry is patiently waiting Defra’s response to its consultation document on TB control measures, we would also urge it to review its policy on reactor disposal. Farmers, including myself, are waiting an average two weeks from the test results received to removal from the farm by facilitators managed by Animal Health. During that period these reactor cattle have to be isolated and run the further risk of infecting wildlife,” says Mr Cotton who runs 460 head of dairy livestock in Somerset.

“The association proposes that farmers are empowered with a choice of disposal by offering them a market based solution, similar to that service already delivered by the National Fallen Stock Company for the collection and disposal of fallen stock. Farmers would have access to a list of slaughter premises and hauliers who we would place confidence in to accelerate the current reactor clearance procedure.

“These proposed measures would bring a welcome relief to the thousands of producers whose businesses are already under tremendous pressure from this insidious disease which is not only a financial burden, but also creating an emotional drain on farming families.”

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