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Regional Differences in TB Controls for Calves

This article discusses the regional differences in TB controls for calves in different areas of the UK, specifically focusing on the experiences and challenges faced by Blade Farming and the Westpoint Veterinary Group. The article also highlights the potential drawbacks and limitations of the TB control system.

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Regional Differences in TB Controls for Calves

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  1. Are there any regional differences in TB controls for calves? Rob Drysdale MRCVS Westpoint Veterinary Group Ltd

  2. Who is Rob Drysdale MRCVS? • Managing Director Westpoint Vet Group Ltd • Farm vet for 17 years • Particular interest in calf health and welfare • Vet to Blade Farming SW Ltd: • Complete and integrated beef supply chain • Produced more nearly 20,000 calves last year • UK’s largest integrated beef producer

  3. Westpoint Vet Group • 16 practices across UK with 50 farm vets • Total practice over 3,000 clients • 250+ dairy farms: • More than 90,000 dairy cows (av herd 350 cows) • Low input extensive to high input intensive • Over 300,000 head of beef and youngstock: • Fattening units from 100 to 8,000 head/year • Suckler farms from 20 to 1,000 cows

  4. Background • Calf Forum Strategy Group project • Investigate the impact of TB on dairy units in different regions of the UK • Meeting with WVG Senior Vets twice yearly had raised issues of how the varying regions interpret TB annexes • Blade Farming experiences – rearing units and supplying dairy farmers

  5. Approved Quarantine Units?

  6. AQU system – works for Blade

  7. Blade Farming and AQUs • Frustration for calf supply chain • Richard Phelps could see potential • Started in 2005 with 1 x TB approved unit • Now have several sheds on several farms each with own TB licence as AQU • Capacity of around 2,000 calves per cycle • Around 1.5 cycles per AQU per year

  8. Blade Farming and AQUs • System works with local AHVLA support • Retailer and processor support • Breeds – many but B&W difficult to justify • Great value weaned “store” cattle • Move to finishers on contract for slaughter • Dedicated farmers and also occasional purchasers

  9. AQU system can work

  10. Background • WVG practices split into 5 English regions • Director or Senior Vet heads up each area • Regions have different DEFRA offices managing them • Vets and farmers frustrated through different approaches by DEFRA Vets • AHVLA – new team from 2011

  11. Background • Five distinct regions – AHVLA offices: • North West = Carlisle • Midlands = Stafford • East Anglia = Chelmsford now Reading • South West = Truro and Exeter • South East = Reading • 10 units SW Scotland with 10,000 cows • Blade Farming – TB controls

  12. North West • 41 dairy farms with 15,000 cows • 4 holdings under TB restriction last 2 years • No units currently under restriction • No local TB controlled rearing available • All bull calves shot • Approx 400 calves shot in period

  13. Midlands • 27 dairy farms with 5,700 cows • 11 holdings TB restricted last 2 years • 5 units currently under restriction • Little support for TB controlled rearing in region and DEFRA “seems unwilling” to support • Not all bull calves shot • Approx 500 calves shot in period

  14. East Anglia • 28 dairy farms with 6,900 cows • No holdings TB restricted last 2 years • Beef units affected with 3 under restriction • Good support for TB controlled rearing in region with one specialist finishing unit in place • No bull calves shot!

  15. South East • 65 dairy farms with >34,000 cows • 18 holdings TB restricted last 2 years • 4 units currently under restriction • Varying support for TB controlled rearing in region. No specialist rearing or finishing units in place • Over 500 bull calves shot!

  16. South West • 50 dairy farms with >18,000 cows • Only 12 holdings not been affected by TB restrictions in last 2 years • 20+ units currently under restriction (dairy) • Good support locally TB controlled rearing in region. Several specialist rearing and finishing units in place

  17. WVG and TB in South West • Working with 8 AQU sheds • Handling total of 1,000 calves each cycle • Average of 1.7 cycles per year • Total beef x and dairy bull calves on the current restricted farms = 3,000+ • 3 x actual TB breakdowns in last 4 years • Estimate over 1,000 B&W calves shot!

  18. Conclusions (1) • All collated from WVG vets and practices? • Frustration felt by farmers and vets: • Veterinary variation – advice AHVLA • Regional variation – implementation of TB control measures • Wastage when system is meant to be in place • Now the regulations have been updated again

  19. Conclusions (2) • Drawbacks exist – the system is not perfect even when working: • Spread of disease potential risk • TB test is not infallible (70% sensitive?) • Extreme biosecurity needs to be considered • Testing procedures and systems could be better? • No new AQUs being licensed in SW?

  20. Over to you – any questions?

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