APPENDIX 17
Memorandum submitted by the British Cattle
Veterinary Association (P17)
The BCVA is a specialist division of the British
Veterinary Association comprising 1500 members of whom over 1000
are practising veterinary surgeons working with cattle in farm
animal veterinary practice. In this respect a large number of
our members come into direct contact with TB control policies
as they affect their client's farms. BCVA are represented on the
DEFRA TB Forum and are members of various stakeholder groups affecting
the industry. We are very grateful for the opportunity to submit
comments to the EFRA Committee Review.
BCVA has long held serious concerns regarding
the current policies for TB control adopted by Government. These
concerns have led to the development of a specific BCVA TB policy
(attached [not printed]) that has been used extensively by the
BVA in development of their own policy.
The following comments address the particular
points raised in Press notice No 10 of 2002-03 17 January 2003
session, and appear in the order.
1. THE IMPACT
OF THE
GOVERNMENT'S
AUTUMN PACKAGE
OF MEASURES
FOR THE
CONTROL OF
BOVINE TB IN
CATTLE ON
THE SPREAD
OF DISEASE
AND ON
FARMERS AND
FARMING
Increasing the severity of the test interpretation
and increasing the level of contiguous testing was welcomed as
step in the right direction for controlling the spread of TB infection
in cattle. There is however great concern over the management
of reactors once they have been identified. Reactor cattle remain
on the farm too long after the test, increasing the possibility
of further dissemination of infection and bringing into question
the farmer's confidence in the eradication process adopted by
Government.
The re-institution of the survey into PMs of
badgers that have been killed in road traffic accidents is also
welcomed, but we have major concerns over the lack of progression
of this initiative. BCVA would support an extension of this survey
nation-wide as an indicator of national disease spread.
With TB spreading almost unchecked in areas
of current infection and appearing in areas previously free of
the disease for many years (eg Cumbria), BCVA are very concerned
that further measures should be considered to halt this trend.
BCVA are particularly supportive of enhanced biosecurity measures
on farms to prevent the introduction of TB by cattle movement
and have produced a "TB Quarantine and Test Protocol"
to address this (attached), however we see little consideration
of infection status of any cattle pre- or post-movement from a
DEFRA point of view. Restrictions of farms with overdue TB tests
is a move toward this but with four-year testing intervals of
many farms in the country, infection can go unnoticed for some
considerable time. The imposition of restrictions does not result
in an immediate test however and infection could therefore remain
unnoticed increasing risk of spread. BCVA have also suggested
a risk approach to the categorisation of farms with respect to
their TB status, and have created a specific herd health plan
for cattle farms to be used in respect of all health problems
on farms.
BCVA welcome measures to investigate the practical
use of the gamma-interferon blood test as a method of increasing
TB testing sensitivity and improving the eradication speed of
the infection from breakdown farms.
2. PROGRESS IN
THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A
VACCINE
Over 10 years ago we were told that vaccination
for bovine TB was 10 years away, and it seems that this is still
the case.
3. IMPLICATIONS
OF DELAYS
TO THE
KREBS TRIALS
Delays to the trials by virtue of FMD are reported
to be minor. Of greater concern was the time slippage in the setting
up of the triplets and other aspects that may affect the results
(perturbation, badger movement by protection groups, badger removal
by disenchanted farmers). These confounding issues are likely
to make the results of the trial highly questionable with opposite
parties likely to entrench their position still further. We appreciate
that the ISG has been faced with practical difficulties with the
progress of the trials. However, there is a danger of research
breeding more research from its results, with little if any useful
progress being made in the formulation of TB control policy.
4. GOVERNMENT
RESPONSE TO
THE RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE
AGRICULTURE SELECT
COMMITTEE
The Government is placing a great deal of significance
to the Krebs Trials despite the possible developments outlined
above. The tone of the response seems to point towards a policy
of toleration rather than eradication. To truly eradicate Mycobacterium
bovis infection from the UK, a comprehensive approach to the removal
of reservoirs of infection should be undertaken. To completely
ignore that reservoir present in the wildlife population is a
high risk policy in the short term.
This is a very brief outline of the BCVA position
regarding the current TB situation in cattle and wildlife in the
UK, and a copy of this submission has been supplied to our parent
organisation the BVA for consideration in the creation of their
response. BCVA would be pleased to address the EFRA Committee
by oral submission to outline our position further should that
be required.
30 January 2003
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