, the Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Climate
Change and Rural Affairs, has made further changes to TB testing
in Wales after meeting with and listening to farmers across
Wales.
The changes, which were announced today (Wednesday, June 26), are
in response to industry feedback and have been made to simplify
procedures without compromising the risk of disease spread.
The Cabinet Secretary made the announcement ahead of speaking as
the guest of honour for the first time at the British Veterinary
Association Welsh dinner (Wednesday 26 June).
The Cabinet Secretary said the changes to the specific types of
TB test involved have also taken into account the resources
required by farmers and vets and cost-effectiveness.
Cabinet Secretary said: “Since my appointment in March, I have
made a point of meeting farmers, vets and others across the
industry to listen to their concerns around TB and the burden and
anxieties these can cause.
“I'm pleased to be able to announce today that further changes -
which have been made in response to industry feedback - are now
in place.
“Recognising the impact on farmers, their families and their
businesses is at the forefront of my mind.
“Last month I accepted all the Technical Advisory Group's advice
regarding the on-farm slaughter of TB reactors.
“We have worked alongside APHA and already implemented changes to
the management of pregnant cattle.
“Our programme for eradicating Bovine TB is centred around
partnership working with our farmers and vets, this is crucial to
reaching our shared goal of a TB-free Wales.”
Notes to editors
The changes to four specific aspects of TB testing in Wales are:
-
The routine testing of calves under 42 days in a TB
incident will no longer be carried out, unless the TB risk from
these animals is considered high.
Reactors are very rarely identified in this age group.
Occasionally groups of young calves fed raw milk from a cow
with a tuberculous udder are identified. In such circumstances,
consideration will be given to short interval testing of calves
under 42 days of age.
-
Routine surveillance testing in Approved Finishing
Units (AFUs), or Licensed Finishing Units (LFUs) is ceasing,
unless the risk is considered high.
These are indoor biosecure units, where cattle can only move to
another AFU (from an AFU), a slaughter gathering, or directly
to slaughter. Slaughterhouse post-mortem surveillance provides
protection to the food chain. . A reduction in testing costs
may encourage the setting up of more AFUs in Wales.
-
Default Skin testing of a cattle herd, following
slaughterhouse suspicion alone, will cease to be a
requirement.
Having considered the evidence, we are content that a herd
check test is no longer needed, if the sample from the suspect
animal identified at inspection in a slaughterhouse is negative
on laboratory testing. If, on the other hand, the
slaughterhouse sample test result is positive, then the herd
will be marked forward for a further test 60 days after the
animal left the herd. This test will count as the first
breakdown test.
-
Tracing tests will continue to reduce the risk of TB
spread through movements of cattle from TB breakdown herds.
However, data analysis of trace tests, currently supports a
move away from trace testing of all cattle moved in low risk
situations. The requirement for these types of
tests will continue to be assessed by the Animal and Plant
Health Agency (APHA).
