The National Farmers Union (NFU) has welcomed the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra’s) announcement of voluntary blood testing for bovine TB.
As part of Defra’s refreshed TB strategy for England, farmers dealing with TB breakdowns will now be able to access government-funded voluntary interferon-gamma (‘gamma’) blood testing.
This tool is being made available from September 1, in a bid to help the industry improve disease detection and control.
Defra explained that farmers who do not qualify for mandatory blood testing, such as those in high risk areas, and herds which require six monthly testing may now be eligible to apply for voluntary testing.
Farmers can apply through the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for the testing when breakdowns through lesions/culture/skin testing (PCR) eliminate their TB-free status.
NFU
The NFU is urging farmers to remember that the testing is optional, and that farmers should consult with their vets regarding eligibility as well as terms and conditions before applying.
The NFU also reminded farmers that the blood test acts as a whole herd test for animals aged over six months, and any cattle that test positive will be slaughtered.
Compensation will be paid according to the individual valuations that apply at the time of slaughter, according to NFU.
NFU president Tom Bradshaw said: “The extension of voluntary gamma testing in higher risk areas is a welcome additional tool for cattle keepers and private vets in the fight against bovine TB.
“We know skin tests aren’t 100% accurate, and greater access to gamma tests will hopefully mean the disease can be detected more quickly and the necessary action taken to reduce the risk to the rest of the herd.”
TB blood test
The option of private gamma testing was made available for English farmers in April 2016.
In July 2021, gamma testing became compulsory for recurring TB breakdowns in high risk area and six-monthly surveillance testing edge areas.
However, these breakdowns must occur within 18 months of the herd regaining official TB free status, following a previous breakdown.
In addition to that, the gamma test is also compulsory for every new TB breakdown herd in the low risk area of England and the annual surveillance testing parts of the edge area of England.
Defra have previously stated that the gamma test is more sensitive than the skin test (~90% compared to ~81%), meaning it is less likely to miss infected animals.
On average, the gamma reads three to four false positives per 100 disease-free animals tested, while the skin test approximately delivers one false positive per 5,000 disease-free animals tested.
