Analysis of the number of animals slaughtered due to bovine TB controls: October 2018 to June 2019

This statistical article shows the latest epidemiological data collected by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for the number of animals slaughtered due to TB controls. Since October 2018, there has been a sharp rise in the number of animals slaughtered. October 2018 saw the highest number of animals slaughtered in a single month.

Main points

There isn’t a single factor that is likely to be driving the increase in the number of cattle slaughtered due to TB controls. This is a complex situation which is not caused by one factor. There are several factors which have contributed to a record high month in October 2018 and the continuing large number of animals slaughtered since. Some of these factors vary month to month, others are on the upward trend and they all impact the total to varying degrees. These factors include:

• a number of breakdowns with large numbers of positive reactors were discovered in October 2018
• an increase in the number of reactors identified through the gamma interferon test
• an increase in the number of dairy cattle slaughtered.
• a large proportion of animals slaughtered come from the High West TB Area.