Shortage of Exempt Finishing Units (EFUs) could put too much strain on expanded pre-movement testing system, warns NBA
UK - The National Beef Association has warned that unless there is a dramatic increase in the number of Exempt Finishing Units (EFUs), which can take feeding cattle that have not been pre-movement tested (PrMT) for TB from breeding farms in 1-2 year testing parishes, there could be too much pressure on LVI operational resources when tests on cattle over six weeks old begin from March 1st next year.
7 November 2006
2 minute read
“We are confident that the 43 EMs already in place in England will be able to handle a suitably serious number of animals but there will need to be many more than the 67 EFUs that have been approved to date if cattle able to move through an EM can be confident of finding a place on a feeding farm without being pre-movement tested.”
“Our estimate is that something like 2,000 EMs will need to be approved by spring next year if the TB testing system, which is funnelled exclusively through local vets working for government as Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVIs), is to avoid coming under huge additional strain.”
“We are quite sure that extra pre-movement TB testing (PrMT) to cover cattle more than six weeks old should not be introduced in England from March next year if LVI’s are unable to meet the additional testing demands.”
The Association has also told Defra that if there are doubts about the cost efficiency of additional PrMT it will argue in favour of more targeted approach to the March 2007 campaign with steers and other non-breeding males being exempted.
“If it can be shown that testing capacity is not a problem, and that an extension of PrMT to all cattle over six weeks old is a cost efficient protection method, we think farmers in 3-4 year parishes ought to be allowed to enjoy the benefits of the improved protection that will come from a reduction in the number of infected cattle moving in from one-two year testing areas,” said Mr Burrell.
“Organisations like ourselves are under huge contradictory pressures from members because most of those with herds in 1-2 year testing parishes are against an extension to PrMT while those in 3-4 year parishes increasingly accept that it might offer them risk reduction.”
“In these circumstances the NBA holds the clear view that post-42 day testing can only be adopted if there are sufficient vets to meet increased demand and herd owners in 1-2 year parishes will not be hit with expensive delays in testing.”
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