Shropshire probe under way after TB found in herd from sale
An investigation has been launched to see if any Shropshire farmers have been affected by an outbreak of bovine TB in their herds following a cattle sale in a neighbouring county.
More than 100 animals from a Cumbrian dairy were sold at the end of February at a market in Cheshire to buyers from across England, Wales and Scotland.
After some of the cattle sold were found to have tested positive for TB, the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency(AHVLA) launched a nationwide operation to trace, isolate and test all animals from the sale.
A spokeswoman for the National Farmers Union in Shropshire today said they will help any member whose cattle test positive for TB.
Helen Cork, NFU Shropshire county adviser, said: "The NFU has been in contact with AHVLA and we understand that the situation is subject to a full veterinary investigation at present, with immediate action taken to trace and test all animals moved along with increasing the surveillance on surrounding herds.
"We'll continue to support our affected members and work with AHVLA.
"The disease is endemic in the region and every possible measure, including strict testing and movement controls, biosecurity, management of the disease in wildlife and vaccination, in the long term, have to be seen as the way to get on top of it.
"Some of our members have been working with wildlife groups on trial vaccination schemes but at the moment vaccination on its own is not an effective and workable option.
"We all want to see healthy cattle, healthy wildlife and a healthy countryside."
The latest TB outbreak has generated significant concern among Government vets and the farming industry, and raised fresh questions about the effectiveness of TB surveillance in England's four-year testing areas, where pre-movement testing is not compulsory.
The disease has been confirmed at the Cumbrian farm which sold the cattle and it has been placed under movement restrictions.
An AHVLA spokesman said: "We are aware of a number of TB-positive cattle cases across Great Britain linked to the sale of dairy cattle from a herd in Cumbria.
"AHVLA has taken robust and rapid action to identify all animals originating from this herd so they can be isolated and tested for TB."
He said it was too early to comment on the likely number of herds involved, or how this could have happened with a herd originating in the relatively clean four-year area.
"This incident highlights how serious a problem TB is for all cattle farmers, regardless of where they farm," he added.
Last week Environment Secretary Owen Paterson announced dropping plans to roll out badger culling across England to tackle TB in cattle.
But the North Shropshire MP said the two pilot culls, in Gloucestershire and Somerset, will continue with improvements recommended by an independent expert panel.
