15/08/06
The National Beef Association has welcomed the imminent roll
out by Defra of gamma interferon (IFN-G) screening for, TB claiming
the adoption of the blood test is a positive move for farmers.
"It will be particularly useful for breeders in low-TB areas
who have been hit with the disease, possibly through translocation,
and who want their herd swept for reactors that have been missed
by the skin test so they can be clear of movement restriction much
quicker than they otherwise would be," explained NBA chairman,
Duff Burrell.
"IFN-g will not be used as a herd test but if the blood test
is introduced after a skin test has shown TB to be present in a herd
its ability to identify positives that have slipped by allows it to
be used to reduce the risk of cattle to cattle transmission within
a herd - particularly as some cattle can evade the skin test even
though visible TB lesions have developed within them."
"This means some blood tested herds will become TB free much
earlier than they would have been and the risk of regular re-infection
within the herd is either reduced or eliminated - which offers many
advantages to both farmers, and government in areas where the chances
of re-infection from diseased badgers is low."
"The NBA supports Defra's proposition that the IFN-g blood test
should be used to help make sure that areas that are clean of TB continue
to be clean but regrets that its use in high-TB areas will be constrained
because of the risk of constant re-infection from badgers with TB
which have still to be controlled with the resolution that the currently
desperate situation with TB in 1-2 year testing parishes demands," Mr
Burrell added.
New TB testing regime is step forward but no solution
Further action to improve testing of cattle for bovine TB
Badger
Trust welcomes TB consultation results
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