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TB control plans for 2013
England and Wales continue to target TB

The European Commission has approved the Wales TB (tuberculosis) Eradication Plan 2013, and from January 1, 2013, major TB rule changes will come into place for cattle farmers in England.

Among the rule changes, the current parish system for TB testing will be replaced with a country-wide system.

Further changes in England include reducing the window for moving cattle from TB restricted herds after their last negative TB skin test from 60 to 30 days, and only permitting the restocking of Officially TB Free status suspended (OTFS) herd after its first post-breakdown test and a satisfactory veterinary risk assessment.

Also from 2013, Approved Quarantine Units (AQU) will no longer be able to restock, but those farmers that had AQUs will be able to re-register as 'rearing' Approved Finishing Units (AFU) and rear calves from infected herd for slaughter.

Furthermore, AFUs will continue to take clean cattle from infected farms for fattening before slaughter, but will be "strictly monitored".

The number of areas annually TB tested will be extended to include Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, East Sussex, Hampshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Oxfordshire.

Two and three-yearly testing will be extended to four-yearly testing elsewhere in England, with enhanced surveillance around TB breakdowns.

Meanwhile, the Wales TB Eradication Plan 2013, which sets out eradication policies that will be implemented during the year, has received European approval.

The plan also builds on measures contained in the Strategic Framework for Bovine TB Eradication in Wales and includes data on the epidemiology of bovine TB in Wales over the last five years and its targets for testing and vaccinations.

“I am delighted that the European Commission has recognised the commitment shown by Wales to eradicating this disease," said the Welsh Government environment minister, John Griffiths.

“We have a comprehensive range of measures in place to deal with bovine TB. This includes tackling the disease in wildlife, increased TB testing and improving biosecurity.”

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.