DairyCo

TB Data

Published 16 November 11

TB Data

Note: Statistics below are for all cattle slaughtered due to TB not just dairy cattle. However, it is estimated that approximately 54.5% of TB slaughtering are dairy cattle.

• The latest provisional TB statistics for Great Britain for August 2011 show that 2,629 cattle were slaughtered during the month as a result of the disease - an increase of 6.3% (155 more cattle) compared with the previous month. Annual comparisons show the number of cattle slaughtered due to TB increased by 19.9% (437 cattle) in August 2011 compared with August 2010.
• The provisional size of the GB dairy herd is estimated to have fallen by 0.4% between 2009 and 2010. Assuming that 54.5% of slaughterings due to TB are dairy cattle; 1.1% of the total GB dairy herd were slaughtered due to TB in 2010.

For more information on number of dairy cows in GB click here.  

 *Provisional

Source: Defra

DEFRA have now published The Bovine TB Eradication Programme for England, which sets out a comprehensive and balanced package of measures to tackle TB in cattle, badgers and other animals, including the Government's view that it is strongly minded to allow a science-led cull of badgers in the worst affected areas. The Welsh Government have authorised a new order that will enable a government managed cull of badgers in specifically controlled Intensive Action Areas.

Annual TB Tests and Slaughterings

• Slaughterings due to TB stood at 32,411 for 2010, 3,322 (9.3%) less than the corresponding figure in 2009, although they remain more than five times higher than the levels seen in 2001 when 6,321 cattle were slaughtered. This figure may largely be due to the fact that there have been over 5 times as many tests on cattle in 2010 (7,013,584) than there were in 2001 (1,204,653).

  *Provisional

Source:Defra