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New Measures to Help Farmers Sell TB Restricted Cattle
Farmers under TB movement restrictions in annual parish testing areas of England now have the option of bringing their cattle home if they fail to sell at dedicated sales for TB restricted animals Animal Health has announced.

Post TB Sale Isolation Units’ have been introduced so that unsold animals returning to their home premises from dedicated sales can be kept segregated from other cattle on the same holding.

Under previous rules farmers were wary about sending animals to dedicated sales because cattle not sold at these gatherings were barred from returning to their premises of origin.

Linda Evans, TB lead Veterinary Service Manager for Animal Health, said the new option should help to boost the autumn sales by encouraging more farmers to use dedicated sales for TB restricted cattle.

“If farmers have established one of these new units on their premises they will be able to send animals to market safe in the knowledge that they can bring them back if they don’t achieve the right price,” she said.

“The idea for Post Sale TB Isolation Units came from a working group we set up at the end of last year at the suggestion of the TB Eradication Group (TBEG).

“The group, which comprises farmers, key trade associations, the NFU and auctioneers, wanted to help farmers under TB restrictions to either sell their animals or take them home if the price they were offered at sales did not meet their expectations.”

Premises in annual testing parishes in England will be allowed to operate one Post TB Sale Isolation Unit.

In other areas animals may return to a TB Isolation Unit (with slightly different biosecurity considerations) on the premises of origin. These units can already be set up, and guidance is available on the Animal Health website.

All units will need to be approved by Animal Health, and will be placed under TB2 movement restrictions. Animals kept in isolation units will undergo TB testing with the eventual aim of reintegrating them with other cattle on the holding.

A number of conditions will apply to all Post TB Sale Isolation Units. For more information about these conditions, and isolation units in general, visit the Animal Health website.

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.