Lawyers dispute the accuracy of bovine TB test

LAWYERS acting for farmers seeking a re-test for cattle that produced anomalous bovine TB test results have said it is 'statistically impossible' for the tests to be accurate.

Clarke Willmott will represent a Somerset organic farming partnership in a judicial review of Defra's decision not to re-test their cattle in the High Court on February 12.

In November, 86 cattle from the Higher Burrow Organic Farming Partnership's 400-strong dairy herd tested positive to the gamma interferon test (gIFN), compared with just 14 to the skin tets.

Clarke Willmott is also representing four other farmers battling for re-tests after similar anomalous results, including Devon farmers Tony Yewdall and his son, Johnny.

Clarke Willmott's agriculture specialist, Tim Russ said the solicitors had asked a vet with expertise in bTB to carry out a scientific analysis of the two tests, based on official statistics about their accuracy.