Defra is consulting on bovine TB in non-bovine farmed animals (goats, pigs, deer etc.). Currently there are there are large gaps in protocols, surveillance, compensation etc. across the different species. Non-bovines deal with disease, respond to tests and pose a variety of challenges therefore the different species cannot be treated in the same way.
Download the briefing to understand the differences in non-bovine species (login to access)
The NFU would like to ensure member’s views form the consultation response. Ten questions have been posed by Defra and the first refers to eight policy principles (click to view). Please complete the following form, answering as many or as few questions as you wish.
Alternatively, please email UmViZWNjYS52ZWFsZUBuZnUub3JnLnVr with any questions or comments.
Defra Policy Principles on TB in non-bovine farmed animals
- Primary responsibility for TB surveillance in live non-bovines should rest with the keepers of the animals.
- The current means of surveillance should continue, which for most species means TB reporting by private veterinarians and animal owners, supplemented for meat producing animals by statutory post-mortem examination.
- Where TB is suspected, APHA should apply movement restrictions, implement herd/flock testing where this is practically possible and, as necessary, cull reactor animals and dangerous contacts to clear infection and mitigate risk to other animals.
- Statutory provisions should be used to compulsorily slaughter non-bovine farmed animals in which bovine TB is believed to be present.
- Species-specific statutory compensation arrangements should exist for all non-bovine farmed species which are compulsorily slaughtered.
- In order to ensure good value for public money, compensation amounts should be designed to ensure all of the following: high levels of compliance with disease control measures; incentivisation of owners to manage their own disease risks; and protection of the economic sustainability of animal keepers’ businesses.
- Maintenance of the evidence base on bovine TB in non-bovine species is the job of Government – Government should be responsible for the first cases (index case) identified in individual TB outbreaks, statistical reporting, and provision of information to animal keepers and private veterinarians.
- The burden of regulation on non-bovine farm businesses and allied sectors should be kept to the minimum necessary to still achieve the Government’s long-term aim of completely eradicating bovine TB.