Alleged outbreak of bovine TB in Perthshire

James Irvine

Teviot Scientific, Cultybraggan Farm, Comrie, Perthshire

Filed 10 Oct 04
©www.land-care.org.uk

It is alleged that there has been a recent outbreak of TB in at least one herd of cattle in Perthshire. It is understood that the disease was detected in a carcass of a beast slaughtered routinely for the food chain rather than during routine TB testing.

This is serious news for those who are striving to achieve high health status for Scottish cattle.

The increasing incidence of TB in hot spots in England and its spread to the south west of Scotland has previously been documented in Land-Care (1, 2).

The recent case raises the question as to whether the authorities are more interested in endlessly talking about the increasing problem of bovine TB, rather then getting on with an effective strategy for its control as a matter of urgency. This is a cry that has been made again and again over many years (3, 4).

It was only on 14th September 2004 that SEERAD announced that pre and post movement tuberculosis (TB) tests will be carried out on all cattle coming in to Scotland from high-risk areas (5). The press release went on to say:

"In addition to this we are continuing work to develop a long term TB Strategy for Great Britain and the new stakeholder group will help ensure the Strategy meets the needs of the industry and protects Scotland from Bovine TB"

As the situation appears to be highly unsatisfactory in relation to a number of diseases in addition to bovine tuberculosis, Land-Care intends to publish a future article about livestock health in general, under the heading:

Livestock health - more talk than action

Diseases to be discussed will include caseous lymphadenitis in sheep, the current situation in the UK for BSE testing and the ineffectual control of contaminated meat products entering the UK in relation to FMD.

©www.land-care.org.uk

Referecnes

1. Irvine, James (2003). Just how bad is the TB problem in UK cattle.
See TUBERCULOSIS Homepage, filed 25 Feb 03, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

2. Editorial (2003). Incidents of TB in cattle in Scotland.
See TUBERCULOSIS Homepage, filed 26 Feb 03, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

3. Irvine, James (2003). TB in cattle and badgers: Zuckerman Report (1980).
See TUBERCULOSIS Homepage, filed 03 Mar 03, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

4. Editorial (2003). Tuberculosis in cattle: DEFRA in no hurry to revise strategy.
See TUBERCULOSIS Homepage, filed 03 Mar 03, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

5. SEERAD (2004). Protection against bovine tuberculosis. Press Release: 14 Sept 2004
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2004/09/14171004

Finis