‘Every farmer should share their views on bTB proposals’

A series of meetings are being held in the county over the coming weeks by the National Farmers’ Union as the membership group seeks to inform its response to the new measures as part of a consultation being staged by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

An eye-catching proposal affecting Yorkshire farmers is to introduce statutory post-movement testing of animals coming into the ‘Low Risk’ area.

Controversial new badger culls in three ‘High Risk’ areas - Dorset, Somerset and Gloucestershire - were underway at the start of the month, Defra said, but the culls are one of a range of measures that make up the Government’s disease eradication strategy.

The aim of the strategy is to achieve official bovine TB-free status (OTF) incrementally across the country, whilst maintaining an economically sustainable livestock industry. This would result in all counties in the Low Risk area achieving OTF status by 2025.

Samantha Davies, the NFU’s regional livestock adviser, said: “All TB breakdowns in our part of the world can be traced back to cattle movements and each one increases the risk that this terrible disease will get a permanent foothold in the region.

“For several years the regional livestock board has been promoting a voluntary ‘risk based trading’ approach across the region, encouraging farmers to do everything possible to protect themselves from inadvertently bringing in an animal that subsequently proves to be infected.

“Currently there is no evidence of TB in our wildlife populations and that’s how we want to keep it.

“It is vital we respond fully (to the proposals) as a region with every farmer given a chance to put forward their views.”

The NFU will discuss the proposals with its members on October 13 at Scotch Corner Hotel at 7.30pm, and on October 14 at Tyne Green, Hexham at 8.30am, Craven Auction Mart, Skipton, 1-4pm, and Malton Rugby Club from 7.30pm.

To book a place, call 01904 451550.