BEEF farmers across the south west have reacted furiously to the TB Advisory Group's report which supports extending pre-movement testing to younger cattle, while remaining silent on tackling the disease in wildlife. The group's report was published last week and welcomed by the Minister for Animal Health and Welfare, Ben Bradshaw, who said he would consider its findings. Six SW NFU county chairmen have issued a joint statement condemning the report as 'profoundly feeble'. A stakeholder meeting is to be held in London next Wednesday to decide their plan of action. Meanwhile, NFU regional chairman Richard Haddock has accused government of wanting to shut down the south west and starve farmers out of business. He predicted that if pre-movement testing was extended to cattle aged over 42 days, as scheduled in March, many livestock markets and farmers will be driven out of business. Pre-movement tests for cattle aged more than 15 months was introduced last year. Mr Haddock said that the numbers testing inconclusive has 'miniscule'. If the test is extended to younger cattle, he added that some farmers could be testing the same animals four to five times a year, with all the cost and stress that involved. 'They haven't proved that testing anything over 15 months is working. They said they have to run the Krebs trials (on the effectiveness of badger culling) for five years to get proper scientific data. This has only been running six months and they are moving to 42 days already. 'The government keeps making excuses that they need more time for science for anything that has to be done in wildlife, but anything a farmer has to do, they are just going hell for leather. 'Most farmers today feel that this government through TB want to shut down the south west and starve farmers out of business,' said Mr Haddock. The NFU statement expressed lack of confidence in the farmer representation on the TB Advisory Group. Mr Haddock said that a beef farmer on the group came to hear their concerns. 'He said he would be doing everything in his power against the 42 days and that he was going to ask for an extension in time. They have totally ignored what we have said and that is why we have no confidence in them.' The TB Advisory Group report points out that its brief was to offer advice on the practical details of testing, not the principle. Further, that it was not asked for its views on badger culling. It says, however, that pre-movement testing could only ever be part of the solution. 'We support pre-movement testing as a means of reducing the risk of spread of TB through cattle movements, although we recognise the strength of concern in the industry about the costs of extending pre-movement testing to younger animals,' said a spokesman. TB Advisory group recommendations: l Gamma interferon test to be used instead of or as well as skin test. l stickers to be used on cattle passports to indicate test status. l State Veterinary Service (SVS) to review procedures for registering more vets to cover seasonal pressures. lDefra and SVS to work with farming and vet bodies to communicate importance of planning ahead for TB tests. lMore publicity to raise awareness of Exempt Finishing Units. lSVS to publicise advice on how to manage pre-movement testing when moving cattle to and from grass keep. lDefra to review its advice booklet to ensure it gives clear advice on welfare issues arising in herds under movement restrictions. lExemption from pre-movement testing for moves within Sole Occupancy Authorities to be reviewed as a matter of urgency. lCo-ordinated approach to testing policy in England and Wales. lDefra and industry to raise awareness of best practice in disease prevention. lPractical operation of pre-movement testing policy to kept under review and adjusted as necessary. Formal review of impact of pre-movement testing policy in March 2008.
