Thirty-month scheme overloaded – NBA

23 May 2001



‘Thirty-month scheme overloaded’ – NBA

By Tamarind Davidson

A GOVERNMENT scheme designed to keep BSE-risk cattle out of the food chain is overloaded to critical levels, claim beef farmers.

The number of cattle awaiting disposal through the Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS) has reached critical levels, according to the National Beef Association.

At least 180,000 cattle are waiting to be cleared, and numbers are increasing by about 12,000-15,000 cows a week, said Robert Forster, NBA chief executive.

The scheme, which disposes of older cattle – more at risk from BSE – was suspended in late February due to foot-and-mouth restrictions.

Mr Forster said the scheme should be reopened.

“The green light must be when the welfare disposal scheme backlog is almost back to normal, and latest figures indicate this is the case,” he said.

“There is no reason why OTMS cannot resume – as it is, it is going to take months before things get back to normal.”

The National Farmers Union estimates that even if the scheme reopened at full capacity, it would be nearly two months before the backlog was cleared.

NFU meat hygiene adviser Tom Hind said: “If the backlog is to be cleared before the autumn flush, disposal needs to start by the end of June at the latest.”

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