Small Group Training

Informal group meetings to be held on-farm (groups of 5-10) giving training and advice in practical aspects including disease risk assessments, bio-security measures, trading options and solutions, such as setting up Approved Finishing Units (AFU’s), Exempt Finishing Units (EFU’s) and Approved Quarantine Units (AQU’s). Dates and venues for these meetings will be published shortly, and may include contributions from a local vet.

Latest News

Forthcoming TB Markets and market report…

Forthcoming TB Markets and previous market reports: Frome – Monday 3rd June 2013 (currently held on at least a monthly basis). Frome TB Restricted Market Report 13/05/13 Sedgemoor – Wednesday 29th May, Wednesday 26th June and Wednesday...

TB Opportunities Area at the Beef Expo

The South West TB Farm Advisory Service have been working in collaboration with Meadow Quality to organise a TB Opportunities area for the NBA Beef Expo 2013 on Thursday 23rd May...

Free Event - Help and Support for Farmer…

Support for South West Farmers The SWTBFAS helped to organise a free morning event for farmers which was held at Lifton Farm Shop (near Launceston) on Thursday 25 April 2013 at...

Practical scenarios for farmers

In Autumn Defra announced the introduction of tighter control measures in England to reduce the risk of bovine TB spreading between cattle. The strengthened rules came into force from 1st...

Defra cattle compensation table

Compensation payable in England for a bovine animal compulsorily slaughtered for Bovine TB, BSE, Brucellosis and EBL disease control purposes Please follow the links: May: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/bovine-compensation-052013.pdf April: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/bovine-compensation-201304.pdf March: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/bovine-compensation-201303.pdf February: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/bovine-compensation-0213.pdf January: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/bovine-compensation-0113.pdf

38,010 cattle slaughtered because of TB …

Defra have released GB National, Country, Regional and County TB statistics for bovines to the end of December 2012. The number of cattle compulsorily slaughtered in Great Britain as reactors, inconclusive...

REMINDER: NEW CATTLE CONTROL MEASURES

A reminder that the new cattle control measures come into force on the 1st of January 2013. Defra information notes on the changes can be found here: Information note on Changes to TB...

Study of the use of Farms by Badgers

The Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) is looking for cattle farms in the south west to participate in a Defra-funded study investigating the use of farm buildings and yards...

Bicton College Project
We now have a dedicated page on our website for our collaborative biosecurity project with Bicton College, which will be regularly updated. To get to the page please click on the 'Biosecurity' tab.
Welsh farmer jailed for 46 weeks for not complying with TB regulations
A welsh cattle farmer has been given a 46-week jail sentence for not complying with TB regulations. The farmer, from Brynford, near Holywell, admitting moving animals illegally without pre-movement testing. The judge at Mold Crown Court said Payne…
Defra announce new TB cattle control measures
DEFRA have announced new TB cattle control measures: Information note on Changes to TB Cattle Movement Controls: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/tb-infonote-1205-changes-to-movements.pdf Information note on Changes to Bovine TB Surveillance: http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/files/tb-infornote-1204-changes-to-surveillance.pdf Tighter control measures to reduce the…
Handover of the Yamaha Grizzly
Handover of the Yamaha Grizzly 350 4WD Quad by Anthony Pope, Lead Advisor with SWTBFAS to Mr D. Harris and his son of Dartmouth, Devon. This was the first prize…
Badger cull delayed until next summer
According to Defra; The National Farmers Union (NFU) have written to Environment Secretary Owen Paterson to request that the pilot badger culls in West Somerset and West Gloucestershire go ahead in…
New group formed to advise Government on TB eradication
New group formed to advise Government on TB eradication Following the review of the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England (TBEG), Jim Paice today announced a new Bovine TB Eradication Advisory…
TB Rule Changes from 1st of July 2012
TB Rule Changes from 1st of July 2012 As part of the Government’s TB eradication plan, a number of cattle control measures are to be ‘strengthened’ from the 1st of July…
Paice warns of changes to TB cattle controls
During a workshop at the NFU conference last week, Jim Paice warned that there were some "relatively small, but important changes" in the pipeline. Although Mr Paice pointed out that…
Policy change - Licensing Of Cattle Onto OTF (W) Premises
The Animal Health and veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) have confirmed that they have changed the policy that allows for farms that have their Officially Tuberculosis Free status withdrawn (OTFW) to…
How the cull will work
1. Who is involved? The Secretary of State has the power to issue licences through Natural England under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 to enable farmers and landowners to reduce…
National Survey of Badgers
A national survey of badgers in England and Wales has begun. This is a follow-up to the last national badger survey of Great Britain, which was completed in 1997. FERA…
Biosecurity Event
BIOSECURITY EVENT In order to provide further support to livestock farmers in the South West, Defra is funding events to provide tailored advice and guidance on reducing TB risks through good…

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Testimonials

"Thank you ever so much for taking part in the Fresh Start session on Tuesday, speaking to all the members afterwards they mentioned how interesting it was and how they will hopefully in a good way be able to use the services you provide" – Cornwall YFC

"It was particularly good to talk to folk in the thick of dealing with the day to day problems faced by our farmers under TB restrictions, and I was inspired by your dedication and passion for the job. I learned a great deal from you, and will certainly make sure I take account of all this as I take forward the TB eradication programme here in Wales" (Christianne Glossop (CVO – Welsh Government)).

"The other interesting thing this week was that I attended a presentation in Dorset by the South West TB Farm Advisory Service. What a very interesting couple of hours that was.” Richard (Somerset)

“Just a line to say how interesting and informative yesterday’s event was. Although none of us are any wiser as to how we can bring the TB problem to a satisfactory conclusion, I personally now have a much greater knowledge about the disease and perhaps more importantly about badgers.” Roger (Wiltshire).

“Adrian came out to the farm and helped me to identify suitable isolation facilities for a group of cattle so that I could get them clear and sell them - very useful visit” – Morley (Cornwall)

“I had just had my first ever TB breakdown and was very confused as to what I should do, I rang SWTBFAS and immediately felt reassured that help was at hand. An advisor visited within a few days and everything seemed much clearer” – Janet (Somerset)

“SWTBFAS helped me to set up an AQU so I am now buying TB restricted Friesian bull calves, running a successful operation and rearing calves which were previously being shot at birth” – Terry (Gloucestershire)

“I found the badger survey I had from SWTBFAS very helpful and reassuring and I learnt a few things I didn’t know!” - Derek (Cornwall)

“Having seen for myself that badgers were coming and helping themselves to my concentrates, I have swiftly put some sheeted doors up to stop them! “ – Peter (Wiltshire)

“We booked some CCTV cameras from SWTBFAS and an advisor came out to set them up. We were thoroughly reassured to know that we weren’t getting badger visits to our farm yard.” – Liz (Dorset)

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