TB Tragedy: Thousands of Dairy Calves Shot
UK - A commercial ban on British exports enforced by Dutch and Belgian veal traders has resulted in the slaughter of thousands of young dairy bulls.
2 September 2008
1 minute read
This unofficial boycott, which was imposed six weeks ago, follows the discovery of animals infected with bovine TB among British live exports, reports the TimesOnline.
According to the news agency, so far, 121 infected calves from Britain have been culled on six Dutch farms and the livestock industries in the Netherlands and Belgium are unwilling to accept any more calves unless there are guarantees that the animals are clear of the disease.
British farmers fear that a meeting of animal health experts in Brussels today will result in new restrictions being imposed on them before the calf trade can be resumed. Many are already resigned to not trading with the Netherlands and Belgium until the end of the year. If there is a formal intervention from the European Commission, farmers’ leaders believe it could be years before normal trading is resumed.
The TimesOnline says that without the export market, farmers have little option but to shoot or put down their bull calves. They have also to foot the £8 bill for the disposal of each carcass.
Further Reading
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