Update on the TB
control program and
calf health
Rob Drysdale MRCVS
Westpoint Veterinary Group Ltd
Why are we here?
• Follow up from spring plenary meeting
• Suggestion of BCEF to review current TB
controls and calf health implications
• Strategy Team – meeting inter-plenary:
– Current TB control
– Future changes – AQUs from January 2013
– Producer feedback to proposed changes?
Background
• Westpoint practice report May plenary
• Variation TB controls differed across UK
• 65 dairy units from 211 dairy farms at that
time were/had been under restriction
• >1,000 B&W bull calves shot in last year
• Only in SW were AQUs and AFUs really
working to manage TB restricted calves
• Problem growing across UK?
Approved Quarantine Units
AQUs in England
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135 registered premises in England
Handling around 20,000 calves per year
From small to large scale units
Blade Farming:
– 6 x AQUs in operation
– Handling ~3,000 calves/year
– 15% of all calves through 5% of units
– Supplying calves to finishing across SW
AQUs in England (2)
• Moratorium on AQUs for 18 months
• EU concerns over biosecurity and control
for TB spread:
– DEFRA – AHVLA review
– Deficiencies in several AQUs visited
– Pressure on UK to remove this “loophole”
• Change in legislation from January 2013:
– All AQUs final intake
– Cease operations from last batch out
Current system has to change
for EU TB control
DEFRA changes TBIN 05-12
• TB information note on DEFRA website
• http://www.defra.gov.uk/animaldiseases/files/tb-infonote-1205-changesto-movements.pdf
• Removal of AQUs
• Implementation of new “Feeder AFUs”
• Restocking and other testing guidance
• Changes in AFU testing requirements
Assured Finishing Units
• Currently 109 AFUs licensed in England
• All based in SW and Midlands
– SW region = 73 units
– Midlands = 36 units
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Cattle from multiple TB restricted farms
Finishing to move straight to slaughter
AHVLA undertake inspections
Regular TB testing
Update from January 2013
• No AQUs – to be phased out
• New “feeder AFU” category
• AFU category – change towards a more
open system
• Split AFUs proposed:
– Risk based management
– With grazing licence (TB tested still)
– Without grazing (no/minimal TB testing)
New AFUs
• Currently 60 AFUs licensed with grazing
– SW region = 43 units
– Midlands = 17 units
• High risk of spread and potential for
wildlife exposure?
• Short term continue testing grazing AFUs
• Long term remove licenses/phase out?
• Only 40% of AFUs have no grazing
Feeder AFUs
• Take calves from multiple
TB restricted holdings
• Rear calves through to
then move on under
licence to finishing AFU
• Risk based management
• AHVLA inspection
• Designed solely for
calves to certain point
What is really needed?
• Consider number TB restricted holdings?
• Latest DEFRA stats to August ‘12
– England currently at >5,500 herds under TB2
• Take a single region:
– SW was >3,400 herds under TB2 (1,600 new)
– SW >3,500,000 head of cattle tested
– SW OTF herd 18,400
– Demand for AFU system is very high
What is really needed? (2)
• Old AQU/AFU system handled:
– ~20,000 calves/year
– >100,000 head all TB animals/year
• Require at least 50% of old AQUs to move
to feeder AFUs to stand still?
• Demand for beef high now but...
– Feed costs high but price rising?
– Beef “throughput” down year on year 8%
Can the new system work?
• Feedback from Blade AQUs is promising
• AFU system may be more flexible in TB
endemic areas:
– Take calves earlier into AFU system
– Create market for currently low value animals
– Many more units required
• Best practice needed – still potential
disease risk eg colostrum management,
Cryptosporidiosis, Coccidiosis etc.
As a vet what is needed?
• Need to consider special
requirements for young
calves = planning with vet?
• Multi source calves
• Multiple disease risks
• Management:
– Size for age
– Exposure and temperature
– Feeding and time
CONSIDER COSTS
Is there a real market for TB
produced beef?