Bovine TB strageties - NBA still to be convinced
01/03/05

The National Beef Association is pleased Defra has at last acknowledged that new strategies must be introduced to reduce, and then eliminate, bovineTB and promises it will help Minister's and officials to develop them.

However has still to be convinced that the government's contribution to TB eradication will be as wholehearted as it should be.

"Encouraging words and good intentions are contained in the new control plans outlined earlier today but because we still have to find out whether government is serious about reducing the badger contribution to TB spread we must reserve our judgment on its commitment," explained NBA chief executive Robert Forster.

"We welcome its pledge to form a partnership that will introduce control strategies based on transparent decision making on badger culling as well as the adoption of independent scientific advice to construct evidence based reduction tactics - and we will work with Defra to secure this."

"But we are not ready to endorse government plans for farmers to bear a greater share of control costs which last year topped £92 million, are expected to hit £110 million by the end of this year, and could increase in further 20 per cent annual jumps thereafter."

"Farmers will only agree to contribute to cost if they have more say in control strategies and are sure that they are working."

"They will not sign up to financing ineffective tactical plans if costs continue to rise and they have no confidence that the financial burden they are being asked to shoulder will be short lived."

"The key to securing their physical and financial support is a balanced eradication programme that effectively tackles the eternal badger to cattle and cattle to badger cycle in hot spot areas and reduces the less widespread cattle to cattle contribution too."

"The NBA has always said that beef farmers are ready to take on the burden of blitzing TB out of existence as long as the painful process is as quick as it possibly can be and there is no hesitation about eliminating TB infected badgers in hot spot areas."

"It is up to government to recognise the truth of this and play its part in the delivery of even handed policies that will reduce avoidable cost to tax payers because it has given up on its historic failure to tackle TB spread determinedly and decided to attack it at its roots," Mr Forster added.