Triple compensation for scrapie?
Triple compensation for scrapie?
SCRAPIE compensation is likely to be tripled in a bid to end under-reporting of the disease which scientists fear could be masking BSE in the national sheep flock.
The government also plans to open the National Scrapie Plan to another 25,000 flocks to hasten the eradication of the disease.
Animal health minister Elliot Morley said the proposals drive forward the governments contingency plan on BSE in sheep. It stresses the need to eliminate scrapie from the national flock which scientists fear may mask the disease BSE.
The moves could gain extra significance if the results of ongoing scientific studies expected by the end of October show the presence of BSE in sheep.
Under proposals now out for consultation, compensation rates for confirmed scrapie cases will rise from £28.95 an animal to £90 for most sheep and goats. Farmers will get £30 for cull females, DEFRA announced on Tue, Oct 9.
Government research has shown only 13% of scrapie cases are reported in the UK, even though it is a notifiable disease. While 600 cases are reported annually, DEFRA officials believe the actual number is nearer 5000.
Mr Morley said increasing compensation rates would give owners extra incentive to report suspicions of scrapie.
DEFRA is also proposing to accelerate the NSP, launched in July, which genotypes rams so animals resistant to scrapie can be selected for breeding.
It wants to open the scheme to pure bred flocks which are not registered with breed societies. *
and to all flocks affected by scrapie, even if they are not pure bred.
This will take the number of eligible flocks up to 40,000, more than half the UK total, a DEFRA spokesman said. About 15,000 registered flocks are currently eligible, although only 4000 have joined so far.
"We have had a relatively slow uptake but this will more than double the number of eligible flocks," the DEFRA spokesman said. He added the government had always intended to extend the plan to non-registered flocks and felt now was the right time.
National Sheep Association commercial manager Chris Lloyd said opening the scheme to non-registered flocks was a "positive step" that would speed the process up. "If increasing compensation enables the government to get a better picture and identify flocks it can help, that is a positive thing," he added.
The Suffolk Sheep Society said more than 600 Suffolk breeders have registered with the plan. Its chairman Philip Long wants all registered breeders to sign up. "It wont be long before commercial lamb producers come under pressure to demonstrate a degree of scrapie resistance in their lambs," he said.