Pre-move tests are pricey for farmers

Feb 27 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

BOVINE TB pre-movement testing is costing livestock producers more than £15 per animal and hitting livelihoods, a new report says.

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) document highlights a TB cost area that has so far been ignored.

The survey, by the University of Reading for RABDF, was designed to identify the true farm costs associated with TB pre-movement testing in England and Wales.

Sixty livestock farmers were involved and they pre-movement tested cattle on average 2.45 times in the previous 12 months, usually prior to sale.

There was substantial variation in the number of animals tested, from less than five to more than 100, with an average of 28.6 animals tested per occasion.

Most farms had to collect cattle especially for the test.

The majority of farmers indicated that pre-movement testing was a cost burden to their business.

While the average pre-movement test worked out at £15.36 per animal, the distribution of testing costs per animal across the sample of farms was varied, with a substantial proportion of farms incurring costs of more than £20 per animal.

RABDF chairman Lyndon Edwards said: “The survey highlights an area of significant costs that had so far been completely forgotten.

“At a time when Defra is insisting that farmers adopt a cost and responsibility sharing approach to animal health, this survey has confirmed they are already doing just that.

“These livestock farmers are having to foot the bill to cover measures which are part of Defra’s legislative requirement.”