§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the number of cases of bovine TB since 1979. [25378]
§ Mrs. BrowningIn Great Britain, between 1979 and 1995—the latest year for which figures are available—a total of 17,979 cattle were compulsorily slaughtered because they reacted positively to the tuberculin test. This figure includes all cattle which reacted positively to the test whether or not the presence of disease was subsequently confirmed at post mortem or by the culture of samples in the laboratory. In addition, between 1979 and 1994—the latest year for which figures are available—a total of 247 cases of bovine TB were confirmed from slaughterhouses.
140W
§ Mr. BottomleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the incidence of bovine TB since 1979 in areas assessed by his Department to have(a) heavy and (b) light badger populations. [25376]
§ Mrs. BrowningIt is not possible to answer this question in the form requested. Detailed badger population estimates do not exist. However, a national badger survey undertaken between 1985 and 1988, which assessed badger activity and presence of setts within 2,455 randomly selected 1 km squares of land in Great Britain, indicated that badger density was generally higher in south-west England and Wales. The incidence of bovine TB in cattle is considerably higher in Cornwall, Devon, Gloucestershire and Avon, Wiltshire, Dyfed, Gwent and South, Mid and West Glamorgan than elsewhere in Great Britain; in 1994 the number of new confirmed TB cattle breakdowns in these areas as a percentage of total herds was 1.231 per cent. Elsewhere in Great Britain the number of new confirmed TB cattle breakdowns as a percentage of total herds was 0.049 per cent.
§ Mr. BottomleyTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how often herds are tested for bovine TB. [25375]
§ Mrs. BrowningCattle herds everywhere in Great Britain, with the exception of Devon, Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Avon, are routinely tested for tuberculosis every four years. Herds in Devon are routinely tested every three years, and herds in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Avon are routinely tested every two years. Division veterinary managers of the state veterinary service may exercise discretion in setting testing intervals in any areas of Great Britain where cattle herds have suffered a recent TB breakdown or where herds are considered to be at risk; this may result in some herds being tested more frequently than the prescribed testing interval for the region.