Bovine TB still major concern for Shropshire farmers
Bovine tuberculosis remains the biggest challenge faced by cattle farmers, a well-known county figure has warned as new figures revealed that thousands of Shropshire cows are being slaughtered each year to combat the disease.
Latest Government figures show that in the 12 months to April, 1,923 cattle were killed in Shropshire in a bid to fight TB.
In the full year 2015, 1,911 cattle were killed, in 2014 the figure was 1,734. In 2013 it stood at 2,125.
The figures paint a bleak picture for Shropshire's cattle and NFU chairman and Bridgnorth farmer Richard Yates said TB remains the single biggest issue facing farmers in the county – and said badger culling is necessary to tackle the issue.
"We are coming up to our annual TB test – which I await with trepidation," he said.
"We are currently clear of TB, but it has affected farmers all round these parts. The test is a date I don't look forward to, and I always fear the worst.
"We have been shut down with bovine TB on several occasions. On one occasion a vet came to me and said there are two types of farmer in Shropshire – those with bovine TB and those that are going to get it. Those words are still very relevant.
"We have not progressed much in this locality, and I hope that our incoming Defra minister Andrea Leadsom will pick up the baton that her illustrious predecessor Owen Paterson set down, and Liz Truss carried on, which says that the only way we are going to effectively deal with this unacceptable problem is by grasping the nettle and dealing with the badgers."
Of the animals that were slaughtered in Shropshire in the year to April, 1,882 were found to have TB, five cases were inconclusive, and 36 had been in direct contact with affected cows.
Over the period, 268 herds which were previously TB-free were affected by the disease.
The figures come after Wales's chief veterinary officer, Prof Christianne Glossop, said bovine TB is the "single biggest problem" facing animal health and welfare in a generation.
Mr Yates said: "I talk to foreign colleagues and they look at us with amazement that we treat badgers as cuddly little animals and don't get on with dealing with them. We don't want to see their elimination – we want healthy cattle and healthy badgers.
"We are overrun with badgers, and every cattle farmer is now looking for strong leadership on this issue."
He added: "A lot of compensation to those affected is from the EU, and whether our British Government will be so keen to fund compensation measures in the future will be a matter of some concern."
Oliver Cartwright, NFU spokesman, said: "
The Government has given a clear commitment to tackling the disease in wildlife in areas where TB is endemic and their 25-year TB eradication strategy also includes strengthening cattle movement controls, vaccinating cattle, when available, and improved bio-security.
"Controlling the disease in wildlife, in areas where it is rife, is an absolutely vital part of any package of measures if we are to successfully get on top of this disease and stop reinfection occurring on Shropshire farms.
"We also urgently need a cattle vaccine – we are constantly told one is 10 years away but that is simply unacceptable, more needs to be done to speed this process up.
"I also think it is disappointing that badger vaccination schemes have been suspended due to a shortage of the vaccine and although this method on its own will not solve the problem we need to see the supply issue sorted out as quickly as possible so this work can continue."
