Saturday 26 May 2012
Headlines
Did you find this story interesting? (0) (0)
13/02/2008 15:19:13
Cattle movements ‘relatively unimportant’ in TB spread – Royal Society report
New research published today (Wednesday, February 13) by the Royal Society shows that cattle movements are responsible for just 16 per cent of bovine TB outbreaks.
In a report, based on an extensive analysis of breakdowns in 2004, scientists attribute three-quarters of outbreaks to 'local effects within specific high risk areas'. These effects, they conclude, are probably the result of the interaction between cattle and badgers. This includes transmission from wildlife and farm-to-farm spread.
The remaining 9 per cent of outbreaks were 'unexplained', with possible causes including unrecorded cattle movements.
One of the key aims of the research was to assess the importance of cattle movements in spreading bTB in the context of the introduction of compulsory pre-movement bTB testing for cattle moving from high risk areas.
The scientists point out that pre-movement testing costs up to Ł6 million per annum. Yet they conclude that cattle movements are of 'relatively low importance' in spreading bTB.
They insist the results are 'robust'. The conclusions on movements were based on a model that considered 130,755 locations, with 3,624,643 batched cattle movements between them over a fixed time period. There were 7,425 breakdowns over 6,139 premises over the same time period.
NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said the report provided the Government with 'clear guidance on where its priorities should lie in bringing bTB under control'.
"We have always argued that in TB hotspot areas, which account for the majority of total TB outbreaks, far and away the biggest cause of disease spread was infection among the badger population," he said.
In a report, based on an extensive analysis of breakdowns in 2004, scientists attribute three-quarters of outbreaks to 'local effects within specific high risk areas'. These effects, they conclude, are probably the result of the interaction between cattle and badgers. This includes transmission from wildlife and farm-to-farm spread.
The remaining 9 per cent of outbreaks were 'unexplained', with possible causes including unrecorded cattle movements.
One of the key aims of the research was to assess the importance of cattle movements in spreading bTB in the context of the introduction of compulsory pre-movement bTB testing for cattle moving from high risk areas.
The scientists point out that pre-movement testing costs up to Ł6 million per annum. Yet they conclude that cattle movements are of 'relatively low importance' in spreading bTB.
They insist the results are 'robust'. The conclusions on movements were based on a model that considered 130,755 locations, with 3,624,643 batched cattle movements between them over a fixed time period. There were 7,425 breakdowns over 6,139 premises over the same time period.
NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said the report provided the Government with 'clear guidance on where its priorities should lie in bringing bTB under control'.
"We have always argued that in TB hotspot areas, which account for the majority of total TB outbreaks, far and away the biggest cause of disease spread was infection among the badger population," he said.
No Comments
Nobody has posted any comments on this story.
|
Farming items for Sale
|
John Deere 6310 - Peterborough(GBP 20269)
John Deere 6630P - NORWICH(GBP 62400)
AXIAL FLOW 2366 - market rasen
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Case CVX170 - Maidstone(GBP 24900)
John Deere - 7830 - Thame
(Price on Application)
(Price on Application)
Related News
TB Advisory Group publishes report on pre-movement testing - 16 Jan 2007A report setting out the TB Advisory Group's advice to Defra Ministers and the Chief Veterinary Officer on the practical delivery and impacts of p...
NFU backs 'balanced' Royal Society report on biofuels - 14 Jan 2008The NFU has given its backing to the conclusions of a Royal Society report on sustainable biofuels. The report, published today Monday, calls on th...
Royal Society report on science and agriculture: GM not the only answer - 21 Oct 2009The Food Ethics Council gives a cautious welcome to the Royal Society’s report Reaping the benefits: science and the sustainable intensification...
Cattle movement not a major cause of TB - 11 Aug 2006Figures released by Defra illustrate that cattle from Wales which have been tested for TB prior to movement* are not a major factor in spreading TB in...
Isolation and post-movement TB testing of incoming breeding cattle urged by NBA - 08 May 2007Breeders buying in replacement heifers and stock bulls are urged to isolate them and then post-movement test them for TB before introducing them into ...
MPs back limited badger cull to reduce spread of cattle TB - 27 Feb 2008MPs have backed limited badger culls to help reduce the spread of cattle TB after concluding that the government's current strategy is not working...
Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society set tight health status rules across all Society Sales - 11 Jan 2010With the 2010 sale season fast approaching, the Aberdeen-Angus Cattle Society is building on its decision made last year to raise the health standard ...
Royal Agricultural Society members flock to visit the Abbeystead Estate in Lancashire - 16 Jun 2003Abbeystead Estate, Lancaster The Royal Agricultural Society of England in conjunction with the Duke of Westminster's Abbeystead Estate nr Lancaste...
Royal Agricultural Society of England consultation has communications at its core - 16 Oct 2006The agricultural sector is to be given the chance to have its say, and influence the way its industry communicates, in one of the biggest independent ...
NFU launches Bovine TB pre-movement testing survey - 25 Oct 2006The NFU is asking its members for help in gathering information about pre-movement testing for bovine TB. Pre-movement testing was introduced in E...
