APPENDIX 2
Supplementary memorandum submitted by
Mr Paul Holliday (P2A)
I write further to you at the Chairman's invitation,
following my attendance at the oral evidence session of 10 February.
I was most pleased at the quality of the Committee and the content
of the evidence taking.
My comments are from substantial experience
in an industry directly involved in on-farm animal husbandry.
Animal and crop husbandry, animal nutrition, animal welfare, animal
movement restrictions, animal biosecurity, in the UK, all are
at a very high international standard. Our random sampling of
food, annual reports from the VDM provide constant evidence of
this.
Honourable Member for the Forest of Dean raised
the question of Switzerland. I believe the answer to the low levels
of TB there is this: Unimproved pasture, small scale unit dairy/beef
production, heavily supported by the Government. Not even attempting
to compete in a world market . . . without support.
In this country, we have chosen to compete in
the global dairy products market, within the framework of the
EU. This has meant, as a matter of business viability: improved
pasture and cultivation of crops like maize. This also means high
pasture soil fertility, high worm populations. High yields of
grass and maize for farmed bovines, high yields of worms and other
scavenged food for wild bovines. This process became very intense
and urgent following the deregulation of the UK dairy industry.
Less reliance on artifical fertiliser also demands; cultivated,
well aerated—humus rich soil. The current trend for more
sustainable production indicates high pasture worm population
status too.
We have I believe, inadvertently changed the
eco system dynamically. In the future, Decoupling may reduce cattle
populations geneally, but may increase dairy herd size substantially
. . . in less units. I suspect soil fertility will stay high for
some years even on pastures that become semi-permanent again.
Maybe this would indicate a decade of substantial growth of wild
bovine populations.
So, my feeling is, that if the present effort
at TB control is to be effective, it needs to immediately address
the main sources of infection, farmed and wild. In a way, the
cost to the Treasury of this inadvertent impact on the eco system,
is at least a comparable cost I would guess, as the approach taken
by Switzerland. A true irony. And much less harsh a place, than
where the global market may have chaotically brought your committee
to.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to engage
in this consultation process.
11 February 2003
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