The farming industry this week breathed a sigh of relief as the all clear was given following a case of brucellosis in Cornwall. It was confirmed in a breeding herd of beef cattle near Liskeard in March.
The herd was slaughtered to prevent any spread of the notifiable disease.
Detailed investigations of possible routes of infection into the herd have since been carried out, with surveillance by the State Veterinary Service (SVS) and the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) on behalf of Defra.
This week it was announced that no evidence of any spread of the disease had been found.
All herds within the locality have been checktested and all herds supplying cattle to or receiving cattle from the infected herd in recent years have also been traced and check-tested.
The National Brucellosis Surveillance Programme is continuing, but no other infected herds have been identified following the incident. Evidence suggests that the infection is most likely to have been introduced into the herd in Cornwall between spring 2002 and spring 2003.
The origin of infection may never be identified because the animal that introduced the infection may no longer be alive.
The incident in Cornwall was detected by an investigation which followed the abortion of one of the cows in the herd.
The National Brucellosis Surveillance Programme in Great Britain includes the following disease surveillance measures:
There is a statutory requirement to report all cattle abortions or premature calvings. An investigation for brucellosis is arranged by the State Veterinary Service and free.
Dairy herds are milk tested for brucellosis monthly.
All beef breeding herds and any other breeding cattle which do not contribute to bulk milk samples, are blood tested every two years.
All imported female cattle that are used for breeding, are blood tested at least two weeks after their first calving in Great Britain.
An abortion or premature calving is defined as one that occurs less than 271 days after service or insemination, or 265 days after implantation or transfer of an embryo, whether the calf is born dead or alive.
