Cattle tests to begin to tighten grip on disease

New post-movement tests for cattle in '˜low risk' bovine TB areas like Yorkshire are 'crucial' in the drive to achieve disease-free status for the region's farms, the chairman of the NFU's regional livestock board said.
By The Newsroom
Published 30th Mar 2016, 18:12 BST
Updated 30th Mar 2016, 18:16 BST
Post movement testing begins on April 6.Post movement testing begins on April 6.
Post movement testing begins on April 6.

North Yorkshire farmer Richard Findlay described the threat of the disease as “terrifying” and said farmers are pleased that the Government’s new testing rules will start next Wednesday, on April 6, despite the extra work for farmers.

The government measure is designed to protect against transmission between cattle.

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Mr Findlay, who farms near Scarborough, welcomed the measures, saying: “For years the NFU regionally has been encouraging all livestock and dairy farmers to do everything possible to embrace risk based trading and avoid bringing TB into Yorkshire and the North East.

“When the new measures were put out to consultation, there was overwhelming support for a more robust testing regime in the Low Risk area. That’s because while we currently have only a small number of cases across the region, each one is a result of a cattle movement.”

There are a few exceptions, but otherwise from Wednesday, any cattle moved from a High Risk or Edge area into the Low Risk area must be post-movement tested between 60-120 days of arrival, and onward movement is not allowed unless a test produces negative results.

Related topics:North YorkshireGovernmentScarboroughNorth East