NFU to flag up tb testing problems

The NFU has been given a unique opportunity to discuss the problems faced by farmers in one or two year TB testing parishes, with the divisional veterinary manager John Kelsey.

Taking place on Friday 09 June at 2pm, the meeting will be held at the Animal Health Divisional Office, Hadrian House on the Rosehill Industrial Estate in Carlisle.

Farmers attending will include NFU North West Livestock Board Chairman Alistair Mackintosh and NFU Cumbria Deputy County Chairman Russell Bowman. There will also be farmers from annual TB testing parishes.

NFU North West's senior policy adviser for livestock issues, Adam Briggs, said: "Discussions will look at the problems faced by farmers in one or two year testing parishes in the county being subject to pre-movement testing while the majority of the county is in three or four year testing parishes.

"Some of the units affected are more than 5km from a confirmed TB case but within the parish boundary. However, some units which are a lot nearer to infected premises but in another parish are unaffected.

"Farmers who are from one or two year testing parishes not only have the added cost of paying for the pre-movement test but have the added stigma of coming from a one or two year parish when trying to market stock.

"This meeting will discuss options for reducing the burden on farmers within these parishes in both the short and the long term."