Question
(2) if his Department will consider developing a policy to ensure that healthy cows are not killed for being at risk of having tuberculosis.
[130780]
Mr Jim Cunningham:
Answer
In 2009-10 the TB cattle testing programme in England cost the Government around £30 million. Nearly all of the cattle slaughtered for TB control reasons have reacted positively to a fully validated diagnostic test. In some circumstances cattle identified as being at higher risk will be slaughtered with the owner's agreement.