Responses of farmers to introduction in England and Wales of pre-movement testing for bovine tuberculosis

Abstract

Pre-movement testing (PrMT) for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) was introduced in England and Wales in 2 phases starting in 2006. This study used questionnaires (n=800, response rate=31%) and analysis of national cattle movement records between January 2003 and February 2007 to investigate the impact of PrMT on specific farm management behaviours. A majority of farmers (65%) believed they had not changed their behaviour in response to PrMT; the main reported changes related to decisions regarding selling of cattle. There was evidence in the cattle movement data that introduction of PrMT resulted in reduction of movements of cattle between farms in those areas which must undertake PrMT. The buying behaviour reported by farmers reflected the tendency to buy locally but some farmers reported that others might be more willing to purchase animals from high-risk areas as a result of increased confidence due to PrMT. However, there was little evidence in the movement data of increased movements from high- to low-risk bTB areas following introduction of PrMT. Analysis of the cattle movement data found increased movement of single animals and decreased movement of large batches (>10) of animals (directly) between farms since the introduction of PrMT.