The only fair and transparent way to compensate farmers for the loss of animals affected by bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is to use the current system of Independent Valuation with a robust audit procedure. That’s according to NFU Cymru in its response to the Welsh Assembly Government’s consultation on the bTB compensation arrangements in Wales.
Bovine TB continues to show an alarming increase in Wales with latest figures as of 31 December 2008 showing 1,848 herds under restriction and a compensation bill in the last financial year of over £23million.
In its response to the government’s consultation, which looks at the responsibilities of herd owners and the principles of compensation and proposes a number of options within the paper to incentivise good practice, NFU Cymru says, "Compensation is little consolation to those 1,848 herd owners affected by TB in Wales who have to contend with the consequential losses and personal anguish associated with a TB incident on their farm."
Dai Davies, NFU Cymru President said "Whilst NFU Cymru will support measures that can be proven practically on farm to reduce the incidence of TB we have concerns with regards to a number of options proposed by WAG within this consultation paper."
"For example the paper suggests that compensation payments in future should be linked to farm practices, particularly associated with biosecurity and husbandry. Whilst we believe that there is merit in exploring what meaningful indicators could be used to advise herd owners on reducing their risks of TB entering their holding, there is little proven practical evidence to show what measures will reduce the risk of a disease outbreak, particularly in areas where the disease is also present in wildlife.
"We would support initially a programme that involves further discussion and the involvement of private vets and practical farmers in the formulation and design of generic advice and guidance issued to the industry, but, for the reasons outlined we cannot support this advice being linked to future compensation payments."
In its response, NFU Cymru has also pointed out that farmers cannot be expected to take on the entire responsibility for TB risk management. Measures proposed in the consultation would have a significant impact on herd owners’ profitability and ability to carry on in productive farming. Dai Davies said, "Some farmers in hotspot areas have been under movement restrictions for over a dozen years. To put extra conditions and costs above and beyond the current veterinary risk assessments that take place before cattle are purchased onto TB affected holdings could be the final economic / financial straw for many."
NFU Cymru points out that the Welsh Assembly Government already has in place legislation to deal with any herd owner found to be in breach of TB rules, these should be used to deal with any herd owners found to be in flagrant breach of the rules or failing to comply with requests made by the regulatory authorities.
In conclusion, NFU Cymru shares the concerns of the Welsh Assembly Government about the cost in compensation payments met in the last financial year and recognises that they are likely to rise further in this financial year. The Union has concerns that this consultation proposes further stringent cattle measures throughout areas of Wales where action to control the disease in wildlife have yet to be announced. NFU Cymru strongly believes that the only proven way to reduce this cost is through the implementation of a successful eradication campaign that employs a holistic approach that tackles the disease in both infected cattle and infected wildlife.