Bovine TB: TB Advisory Group meeting - Wednesday 27 June 2007
Meeting summary
1. This was part of the series of fact-finding meetings the TB Advisory Group has been holding to get a balance of views on tackling TB from all interested parties.
2. The Group invited representatives from the National Farmers Union (NFU), National Beef Association (NBA), Country Land and Business Association (CLA), and the Royal Association for British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) to give their views on current TB control policies in England including views on the ISG’s final report and conclusions.
Current controls and ISG Report
3. The RABDF stated there had to be a TB eradication strategy, which also targets the wildlife. The NBA agreed and stated that the industry would be happy to take on some of the increased cattle control measures, and take on more ownership of the disease, but only if the balance is addressed in the wildlife. The NBA was encouraged by the findings in the report because they felt it only ruled out culling on a small scale. The NBA also said the ISG’s report did not take into account the wider social, environmental and economic factors associated with dealing with TB.
4. The NFU agreed with the points already made and stressed the distress and concern that was felt by the farming community about the lack of a decision on wildlife. They confirmed that the industry could come together and take ownership to tackle the disease but that Government had to play its part too.
5. The NBA queried whether culling of any form was still on the agenda. The Chairman confirmed that it was his understanding that the moratorium on applications for culling had been lifted when the RBCT trial had finished. However, Defra confirmed any applications for culling would be put on hold while Ministers were considering their policy position.
6. The NBA and NFU confirmed that industry had reacted positively to the ISG report. They wanted to take more ownership in decision-making to tackle the disease. The NBA and NFU then outlined the preliminary work they had already done in considering how an industry-co-ordinated badger cull could work at a local level.
Reducing spread of the disease
7. The Group also invited views on the ISG report’s recommendations on ‘zoning’ to reduce the risk of disease spread. Attendees stated their preference for zoning to be adopted on a precise and not general basis. They were unhappy with the idea that England be split into two clear zones, with cattle not allowed to move out of a large high risk area. It was agreed there also needed to be clarity about what was meant by zoning – e.g. restrictions herd to herd or farm to farm.
8. The meeting also discussed improving husbandry practices. The RABDF stated that they agreed it was vital that badgers were kept away from cattle housing and food, so there was no incentive for them to come near the cattle, but individual farmers could not afford to double fence their entire farm. The NFU confirmed they would be happy to continue to promote these husbandry best practices but they needed to be promoted alongside tackling the wildlife.
9. The meeting then discussed recording information on individual animals. The NBA suggested that it would be useful if BCMS recording systems could be co-ordinated with animals' testing history so all relevant information was recorded centrally. Stickers could also be used on cattle passports to record when the last clear TB test had been. The Chairman recalled that this was one of the TB Advisory Group’s pre-movement testing recommendations. The Group were aware that Defra had facilitated industry discussions about developing proposals for the use of stickers on the cattle passport to identify TB test status and facilitating implementation. The NFU and NBA said this action was with them and would let TBAG know what they proposed to do next.
Improvements to testing
10. The Group asked if the gamma interferon blood test could be used more widely than at present, but with limited availability and costs, how it should be used. The NFU suggested it should be used in areas outside TB hotspots to avoid further spread into cattle and wildlife. The NFU stated that gamma interferon was of limited use in hotspot areas because infection was already there and spreading. The NFU were also of the view that gamma interferon could not be used more widely with the current compensation system and without a decision on wildlife.
11. The Group asked whether pre-movement testing was now accepted by industry. Attendees confirmed that there seemed to be general compliance. It was also acknowledged that some farmers post-movement tested their animals to help reduce the risk of disease spread. The NBA confirmed that they thought industry would accept a post-movement testing policy if it was part of a balanced package of control measures which included the wildlife. The NFU suggested that post-movement testing would be needed in some areas more than others.
12. Following the introduction of pre-movement testing, it was noted that there had not been as much uptake on Exempt Finishing Units (EFUs) and Approved Finishing Units (AFUs) as anticipated. This was initially due to a lack of understanding of the requirements and because of the strict biosecurity requirements. It was also felt that the standards were not applied consistently by Animal Health in different regions. The NBA agreed to provide more information about changes that could be made to help encourage uptake.
13. The NFU said that the cattle tracing IT system in Ireland was so effective there was no need to pre-movement test. It was also suggested that the Livestock Register could achieve a similar effect here. But in the absence of equivalent IT systems now, the Chairman sought views on speeding up tracings to reduce the risk of disease spread. Industry representatives agreed this would be a good idea so the Group agreed to consider options further.
Costs
14. The meeting also discussed the costs of the ISG’s recommendations for improving cattle control measures. The Group asked if there was a package of control measures, how many of them would industry accept. The NBA and NFU responded that industry would accept some of the further cattle measures outlined in the ISG’s report but could not accept cost sharing until there was action on wildlife.
Vaccines
15. The Group asked whether attendees thought vaccines would help tackle the disease. All agreed a vaccine would be worthwhile but it was some time away. The NBA queried whether the current skin test and a vaccine could be used together. Defra confirmed that this issue was part of the current research programme. The Chairman stated that although use of a vaccine was some years away, the planning and scoping of how a vaccine might be used needed to be done now. The Chairman asked attendees to consider how vaccines could be used and the Group would welcome their views in due course.
Actions
16. To conclude the Group asked for attendees’ further views on the following issues:
(a) alternatives to zoning
(b) views on the logistics of introducing the further cattle measures
outlined in the ISG’s report
(c) encouraging further uptake on EFUs and AFUs, with clarification of regional issues
The Group asked for views on these issues by Tuesday 17 July 2007.
Those present:
Peter Jinman (Chairman)
Brian Jennings
Bill Madders
James Kirkwood
Andrew Cunningham
Meurig Raymond (Deputy President, NFU)
Martin Howarth (Director of Policy, NFU)
Henry Aubrey-Fletcher (Deputy President, CLA)
Tim Brigstocke (Policy Director, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers)
Sophie Jenkinson (Policy Advisor, Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers)
Robert Forster (Chief Executive, NBA)
Bill Harper (Chairman, TB Committee, NBA)
Gabrielle Edwards, Defra
Amanda Roper, Defra
Teresa Filley, Defra, TB Advisory Group Secretary
Robbie McDonald (Head of Wildlife Disease Ecology, CSL) – observer only
31 July 2007
Page last modified:
14 August 2007