Hansard

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Volume 492: debated on Thursday 14 May 2009

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Mr. Roger Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cattle were slaughtered after testing positive for bovine TB in each of the last three years; what estimate he has made of the number to be so slaughtered in 2009; and if he will make a statement. (274927)

Jane Kennedy

The information is as follows:

Bovine TB cattle1 slaughtered in England between 2006 and 2008

Number

2006

16,007

2007

19,827

2008

27,455

1 Includes animals testing positive to gamma interferon testing, IRx3 , Inconclusive Reactors (IRs) and Direct Contacts (DCs). Source: Provisional data, as downloaded from the Vetnet TBiC system on 2 March 2009. All data has been taken from TB Programme Statistical Notice December 2008.

Due to the unpredictable nature of bovine tuberculosis, it is not possible to estimate the number of cattle that are likely to be slaughtered in England throughout 2009.

Mr. Roger Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many routine tests for bovine TB were undertaken in each of the last three years; how many of these tests indicated reactors; and if he will make a statement. (274928)

Jane Kennedy

The number of bovine cattle tests for England for the last three years, compared to the total number of cattle slaughtered as indicated reactors can be seen in the following table:

2006

2007

2008

Number of cattle tests1

4,131,821

4,326,989

4,637,294

Number of cattle slaughtered as reactors2

14,587

18,570

26,038

1 Includes animals testing positive to gamma interferon testing.

2 Includes IRx3 and gamma interferon positives.

Notes:

1. Provisional data as downloaded from Vetnet TBiC system on 2 March 2009.

2. All data has been taken from TB Programme Statistical Notice December 2008.