DEFRA TB advisers demand aid for farmers

Farmers embroiled in the battle with bovine tuberculosis should receive social and financial support, the government'sTB Advisory Grouphas said.

In a report published this week (8 April), the group highlighted the misery that TB had inflicted on vets, farms and communities and said the stress of dealing with the disease extended beyond the cost of animals being slaughtered.

The government should explore methods of providing better social help to offer direct financial support for those whose businesses are hit, it added.

Within its 36 recommendations, the group said the disease would take at least 20 years to eradicate and criticised DEFRA for placing too much emphasis on vaccination in the fight against bovine tuberculosis.

"Given the current rate of spread of TB we are concerned there may be over-reliance on a future vaccination programme for cattle and badgers - this should not negate the urgent need for measures to tackle the problem now."

Vaccinating badgers would take many years to have an impact on the disease in cattle, the report added.

For a cattle vaccine, the earliest date for introduction was still seven years away.

The report warned the introduction would need a change in EU law which, if not addressed soon, could further delay the use of cattle vaccine.

Movement testing also drew criticism. "Animals should be moved with paperwork indicating the testing regime they have undergone," the group said.

"We are disappointed that this has not been introduced after it was recommended in an earlier report."

The group also criticised the government's lack of a sense of urgency in dealing with the disease.

Testing should be done in a more co-ordinated way with all farms in a region tested within the same time period, it said in the report.

Tracing of the disease source should be more rigorous and far quicker than the current nine-week target.

Reactors were also taking too long to remove from farms, allowing the disease to spread. The target was 20 days for removal but in some cases it was taking longer.

In further acknowledgment of the badger's role in the spread and perpetuation of the disease in cattle, it called for farmers to improve biosecurity.

"Where practicable, farms should make their feed stores, cattle housing and infield feeders badger proof," it said.

The report was welcomed as "helpful and considered" by the NFU animal health adviser Catherine McLaughlin.

"I hope DEFRA takes note of this. We are pleased that the social impact has been given recognition."