Update on the TB control program and calf health

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Update on the TB control program and calf health
Rob Drysdale MRCVS Westpoint Veterinary Group
Ltd
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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?

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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
• gt1,000 BW bull calves shot in last year
• Only in SW were AQUs and AFUs really working to
  manage TB restricted calves
• Problem growing across UK?

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Approved Quarantine Units
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AQUs in England

• 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

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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

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Current system has to change for EU TB control
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DEFRA changes TBIN 05-12

• TB information note on DEFRA website
• http//www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/tb-i
  nfonote-1205-changes-to-movements.pdf
• Removal of AQUs
• Implementation of new Feeder AFUs
• Restocking and other testing guidance
• Changes in AFU testing requirements

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Assured Finishing Units

• Currently 109 AFUs licensed in England
• All based in SW and Midlands
• SW region 73 units
• Midlands 36 units
• Cattle from multiple TB restricted farms
• Finishing to move straight to slaughter
• AHVLA undertake inspections
• Regular TB testing

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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)

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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

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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

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What is really needed?

• Consider number TB restricted holdings?
• Latest DEFRA stats to August 12
• England currently at gt5,500 herds under TB2
• Take a single region
• SW was gt3,400 herds under TB2 (1,600 new)
• SW gt3,500,000 head of cattle tested
• SW OTF herd 18,400
• Demand for AFU system is very high

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What is really needed? (2)

• Old AQU/AFU system handled
• 20,000 calves/year
• gt100,000 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

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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.

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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

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Is there a real market for TB produced beef?