{"id":5688,"date":"2020-10-27T09:04:06","date_gmt":"2020-10-27T09:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www-dev.promar-international.com\/?p=5688"},"modified":"2020-10-27T09:04:06","modified_gmt":"2020-10-27T09:04:06","slug":"how-to-defeat-tb-on-farm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.promar-international.com\/it\/how-to-defeat-tb-on-farm\/","title":{"rendered":"The Threat of TB"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Emma Stuart MRCVS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on where you are in the country, bovine tuberculosis (TB) is either a constant daily worry or a distant threat. Regardless, the stress of TB testing affects every farmer in their own way and unfortunately, it\u2019s not going away any time soon. But not all is lost\u2026steps are being taken to eradicate the disease. In 2014, the government published the 25-year bTB eradication strategy, aiming to deem England officially bTB-free by 2038.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far, the picture has been mixed and improvement has fluctuated. The high-risk areas are showing reduction in the incidence of cattle TB, while cases in the \u2018edge\u2019 areas are on this rise, in spite of increased testing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undoubtedly, badger and deer wildlife reservoirs can complicate eradication efforts. Yet, there is still a need to question what you can do to minimise the risk of incursion onto your farm and what role you can play in helping to get this disease under control, once and for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TB is a complex disease, but small changes can make a big difference<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key is to \u2018make your farm your fortress<\/strong>\u2019. The leaflets have floated around for years, but it is still true. You need to keep your infectious disease enemies out, particularly if you are in a low-risk area for TB. If you are, do your research before you buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where are the cattle coming from? Check the animals\u2019 histories and their passport \u2013 have they ever spent time in a high-risk TB1 area, no matter how short? Have they been on a farm that has had a breakdown in the past?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before purchasing, check for any breakdowns in the vicinity on ibtb.co.uk<\/a>. Have they had a recent TB test? If not, make sure to isolate the cattle for at least three weeks and test them before being introduced to your own stock. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are already in a high-risk area, consider buying from low-risk areas. This doesn\u2019t mean that you don\u2019t have to maintain the same level of biosecurity, isolation and testing\u2026 this is still extremely important! Ultimately, the best method to prevent the risk of buying infected animals is to maintain a closed herd, but for many, this is not feasible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep them out!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Badgers and deer are known to be important wildlife reservoirs, so keep them out! TB is spread in saliva, sputum, bite wounds, abscesses, urine and faeces, so contact with any of those excretions pose a risk factor. If possible, ensure fencing is wild-life proof, prevent wildlife access to feed stores, and if you feed animals outside, consider a badger defence feed trough with spinning rollers. Even if you can\u2019t make your fencing wildlife-proof, ensure it is always stock-proof and use double-fencing to avoid contact with neighbouring animals. There should be at least 3 metres<\/strong> between your cattle and other stock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In particular, try to exclude badgers from cattle housing by sheeting off the bottom of gates with tin and shutting doors at night. Water troughs are also a risk, so raise them or move them away from areas where badgers may frequent, such as woodland. It is a good idea to fence off watercourses for the same reason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other actions to take:<\/p>\n\n\n\n