Bovine TB Strategy Launched

DEFRA has launched an ambitious strategy to rid England of bovine TB within 25 years, with much of England free by 2025.  The strategy which has been developed by the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England (AHWBE) and the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Advisory Group for England (TBEAG) is still only draft, but draws upon successful experiences in Australia, New Zealand, Michigan (USA) and the Republic of Ireland.  The approach will be risked-based and at its centre is the development of three different risk areas in England:

• Low Risk Area (LRA) – currently across the North and East of England. 
• High Risk Area (HRA) – currently in the South West, West Midlands and East Sussex
• Edge Area (EA) – the boundary between the High and Low risk areas

The Strategy sets out a preferred package of options for each risk area with the objective of keeping designated Low Risk Areas free from bTB, preventing the spread of the disease in the Edge Areas and radically reducing it in the High Risk Areas.  There are also measures which will be applicable across all areas including:

• Risk based trading – making herds’ bTB history available at point of sale and AHVLA to continue its work aimed at generating a bTB risk rating for every herd in the country.
• Using compensation to reward good practice on biosecurity.  Currently 100% of average market value, the strategy looks at using salvage value as the default and a premium being paid to those who adhere to best practice.
• Improved advice to farmers
• Tackling bTB in non-bovine farmed species.

Another key element of the strategy is the development of new techniques to combat the disease.  On-going research and understanding of the disease will continue alongside the deployment of new tools such as badger & cattle vaccines and new diagnostic tests.  The pilot badger culls, due to take place this summer will also be rolled out to other areas if they are deemed successful.

Running simultaneously is a consultation on the draft Strategy, details of which can be found at https://consult.defra.gov.uk  The deadline for replies is 26^th September 2013. With the pilot culls due to start this summer many in the industry will be pleased to see such an ambitious target of much of England bTB free by 2025, but whether the measures contained in it will deliver remain to be seen.  But perhaps there is the hope that this debilitating disease is rising up the agenda and more will be done to combat it over the coming years.