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UFU said it has been told by Northern Ireland's Chief Veterinary Officer that the current bTB strategy review was still in ‘draft form' and had not yet undergone scrutiny by policy developers

UFU president William Irvine and dairy farmer from County Armagh said: "DAERA's review of NI's TB strategy is a step too far. There is extremely limited focus on the most critical issue – the need for an effective eradication programme that addresses all sources of infection"

The TB24c licence will authorise the general movement of bovine animals to a licensed slaughterhouse, allowing bTB-restricted keepers to send cattle either directly or through an approved bTB slaughter gathering to an approved slaughterhouse in England and Wales

Dairy farmer Michael Williams and his vet Rhiannon Lewis are utilising historical test data on-farm to identify ‘residual disease risk' in clear-testing cattle, through the identification and management of high-risk animals for slaughter and improved biosecurity

Ian farms in partnership with his family near Knutsford, Cheshire. They manage 700 commercial pedigree Holstein/Friesians on 445 hectares (1,100 acres). Replacements are home reared and cows are on a composite system

On September 18 the Sêr Cymru Centre of Excellence for Bovine TB at Aberystwyth University will be hosting its annual conference. This year the event focuses on the social dimensions of managing bovine TB in cattle

Defra said the new approach will use a 'data-led and scientific approach to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament'

This week from Íæż½ã½ã editor Olivia Midgley

From robots boosting profits on the last remaining prison farm in Britain to the removal of Winter Fuel Payments and the impact it could have on rural pensioners - these are six farming stories not to miss this week on FG

Alan Carter farms in partnership with his parents, Paul and Christine, on a 162 hectare (400-acre), 400-cow dairy unit at Constantine, Cornwall, with 130 milking cows, supplying Saputo. Alan, also a Parish Councillor, and his wife Sarah, have two children, Ross and Dana