Industry group set up to stop Cheshire TB spread

A cross industry group has been brought together in Cheshire with a view to arresting the spread of TB in the county.

The group consists of farmers, vets, auctioneers, industry bodies and local authorities as well as representatives from the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. It’s hoped that through a multi group approach, a Cheshire countryside free from TB in both wildlife and cattle can be achieved.

Chairman of the group is Cheshire dairy farmer Richard Fair who said: “The incidence of TB in Cheshire has been growing steadily worse over the past few years, with the number of TB cases rising to 116 in 2012 compared to 35 in 2005. Last year more than 700 cattle were slaughtered to control the disease in Cheshire. I know from personal experience the impact that TB can have on your farm, having just found TB in my herd.

“Tackling the disease in Cheshire is seen as critical if the spread north is first to be stopped and then pushed back. It is hoped that by bringing together everyone who has an interest in stopping the spread of this disease, we may really get a handle on where the disease is and work together to stop it in its tracks.”

One of the first objectives that the group has set out to do is to find out exactly what the incidence of the disease is in the county’s wildlife alongside maintaining robust cattle testing. To that end they are working with the University of Liverpool to try and deliver a survey of TB in the wildlife, which will help focus badger vaccination where it will be effective.

Richard added: “It is in everyone’s interest, be they farmers, auctioneers, vets and conservation groups, to tackling the disease in both cattle and wildlife. The first step is finding out exactly where this disease is.”