We have received several comments from different farmers regarding the testing procedure and it is clear that the quality of testing varies considerably. Some farmers make formal complaints. However, we rarely get public reports regarding testing irregularities but we suspect cases are far more widespread than reported.

A rare case was reported in April 2102 in the Holyhead and Anglesey Mail (www.theonlinemail.co.uk/bangor-and-anglesey-news/local-bangor-and-anglesey-news/2012/04/18/anglesey-vets-pracice-banned-from- testing-for-bovine-tb-66580-30786655/). An Anglesey veterinary practice has been banned from testing for Bovine TB after it was found out it wasn’t conducting the process properly. The practice is the Gaerwen based vets Bennett-Williams which sent out letters to farmers and farming unions explaining the disruption to TB testing.

Cattle farmers who use the practice for TB testing have been told by Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to make alternative testing arrangements after an audit of TB testing procedures identified the problems.

To regain the right to deal with TB, vets at the practice will need to be re-trained.

An angry farmer told the Mail: “There are deadlines and legal requirements about testing that we as farmers need to meet. “If this is not done right then it could put the whole TB control plan in jeopardy. We could believe that our cattle are healthy and then find that they have to be destroyed, which would put you out of business.”

A spokesman for the Animal, Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) part of government’s DEFRA department said: “Following an audit of TB testing procedures, which identified a failure to follow standard operating procedures, AHVLA has suspended a private veterinary surgeon working in North Wales from operating as a panel 1a (bovine TB testing) official veterinarian, pending re-training.

“Owners of cattle served by the suspended practice have been notified and advised to make alternative testing arrangements.”

The Mail apparently contacted the Bennett-Williams practise about the issue and was told they were too busy to comment.

How often is the correct procedure ignored? Certainly we are told of many such incidents where complaints are made and nothing appears to be done, including the ones we detail in the articles /case studies section of www.bovinet.co.uk, including the one set out in detail at www.bovinetb.co.uk/article.php?article_id=95

According to the latest news on the AHVLA (Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories) site a http://animalhealth.defra.gov.uk/about/official-vets/newsitems/index.htm the AHVLA has been working with a group of OVs, including representatives from the RCVS, BCVA and BVA, to produce a set of instructions for OVs on tuberculosis testing in cattle. Following a review cycle and a number of workshops the final set of instructions have now been signed off. The main changes in the instructions are:

Removal of the requirement to check movement records at the test.

Additional clarification on animal identification, actions on missing or added animals and unidentified or incorrectly identified animals during a test.

The requirements for measuring on day two, in particular that each injection site must be visually inspected and manually examined by careful palpation of the skin fold in the injection site area. Where there is any detectable reaction at either site, both sites must be re-measured with the same callipers used on day one.

A summary of skin test instructions can be found at the following sites:

http://animalhealth.defra.gov.uk/External_OV_Instructions/TB_Instructions/Skin_Test/index.htm

http://archive.defra.gov.uk/foodfarm/farmanimal/diseases/atoz/tb/control/tuberculin.htm