British Simmental Review 2018

Sheeted Gate
A Member’s
Answer
to TB
In November 2018, DEFRA released a report reviewing
the Government’s 25-year strategy with regard to
Bovine Tuberculosis (TB). The review included major
recommendations to help meet the challenge of preventing
spread of the disease, and in particular for farmers to have
a duty of care to protect their own livestock against the
threat of TB. General diseases of cattle, such as BVD and
IBR are relatively easy to manage and eradicate; the source
of any infection can be culled, and a vaccination program
put in place. Unfortunately, these choices are not available
in the case of TB, and other options need to be considered.
We farm in a high-risk area, and TB is in evidence in the
locality. Two years ago, we decided to take the bull by the
horns, and look into what we could do to secure our cattle.
First up was a detailed risk assessment. This was done
by walking the land boundaries and looking for badger
incursion; setts, latrines and runs. Whilst most of the fields
showed no signs of incursion, a single field, set some four
miles away from the farm, had evidence of badger activity.
A search of the area located two setts within a mile of the
field. Around this time, the TB Advisory Service (TBAS)
were advertising for farmers in the high risk area to call on
their services. We decided there was nothing to lose, and
booked an appointment.
034 www.britishsimmental.co.uk