Re-directing cattle farming advice/views

[baaa]

Hi to everyone, I'm based in Brittany, France. I farm sheep over here. I have a farming friend with a 400 acre farm, who has recently sold his Montbeliarde milking cows, after 30 years of milking on the farm. He is now looking to redivert his farm business whilst keeping cows and cattle as his focus. He has over 3000m2 of modern farm buildings.
I have agreed to help him find ideas for his next venture and I am coming here for your friendly advice and views . One thing that has struck me as interesting is that there is no TB in Brittany and/or France. The only TB testing that needs to be done is at the abattoir. There is no testing on the farm, so no risk of positive reactors. This could mean that farmers that have cultivated their bloodlines over many years, could safeguard them by boarding a selection at such a farm. Do you think there could be a demand for such a service for cattle farmers? He might also be interested in offering services, such as, AI, semen collection and embryo transfer if required, perhaps from French cattle breeds as well. Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[Formatted]

Moving cattle from areas of a high risk of TB infection to an area of low risk? What could possibly go wrong...

 

[baaa]

Yes I get your point, thank you for replying. I"m assuming that measures would be taken to avoid such risks. He has quarantine facilities and no cows on the premises or nearby at the moment. I was wondering if breeders would use a facility like this to keep their valuble blood lines safe. In-house AI, semen collection and embryo transfer are options. I don't know if brexit has caused difficulties in sourcing european semen and embryos?

 

[Highland Mule]

I don't know if brexit has caused difficulties in sourcing european semen and embryos?

Are we not heading to a live export ban? I really don't see what you could offer in France that couldn't be done in (for instance) northern Scotland, but without so much paperwork hassle.

 

[baaa]

Thank you for your reply. Yes we're heading for a ban on live exports for slaughter but I believe export and import for breeding stock will continue. It is interesting that you mention northern Scotland, I imagine there is less risk of TB there, but I don't know the statistics. I imagine there are cattle well-suited to the climate there and some that are not. My friend's land is suitable for year round turnout. His milking cows had the freedom to go in and out as they wanted in the winter. Thank you again for your reply

 

[le bon paysan]

Hi to everyone, I'm based in Brittany, France. I farm sheep over here. I have a farming friend with a 400 acre farm, who has recently sold his Montbeliarde milking cows, after 30 years of milking on the farm. He is now looking to redivert his farm business whilst keeping cows and cattle as his focus. He has over 3000m2 of modern farm buildings.
I have agreed to help him find ideas for his next venture and I am coming here for your friendly advice and views . One thing that has struck me as interesting is that there is no TB in Brittany and/or France. The only TB testing that needs to be done is at the abattoir. There is no testing on the farm, so no risk of positive reactors. This could mean that farmers that have cultivated their bloodlines over many years, could safeguard them by boarding a selection at such a farm. Do you think there could be a demand for such a service for cattle farmers? He might also be interested in offering services, such as, AI, semen collection and embryo transfer if required, perhaps from French cattle breeds as well. Any helpful advice would be greatly appreciated

I'm in the Limousin and we're back to 2 year testing everything over 2 years old. Others are on Annual tests.
Read this...

Mycobacterium bovis infection of wildlife in France - WOAH Bulletin

Assessment through a national surveillance system, Sylvatub...

oiebulletin.com

And this...

Bovine tuberculosis, a disease monitored in both domestic and wild animals

Bovine tuberculosis is an animal disease transmissible to humans that primarily affects cattle herds. France has enjoyed disease-free status since 2001. A few outbreaks persist in certain départements but these are currently covered by specific surveillance and management measures, enabling this...

www.anses.fr

 

[baaa]

I'm in the Limousin and we're back to 2 year testing everything over 2 years old. Others are on Annual tests.
Read this...QUOTE]

Thank you for replying. This is so interesting. There is a small amount of TB in other reigions, such as yours, but officially, France has been indemnified of TB since 2001. This means the occurence of the disease is less than 0.1% of cattle.

The online article below published on the French government site in March 2021 has been translated into English.

La tuberculose bovine, une maladie surveillée chez les animaux domestiques et sauvages

La tuberculose bovine est une maladie animale transmissible à l'Homme et affectant principalement les élevages bovins. Depuis 2001, la France dispose du statut indemne de la maladie, toutefois, quelques foyers d’infection persistent dans certains départements et font l’objet aujourd’hui de...

www.anses.fr

The translation reads:

Since 2001, France has been considered officially free from bovine tuberculosis by the European Union, despite the persistence of around one hundred outbreaks each year. In some regions, particularly New Aquitaine, there has been a steady increase since 2004.

To obtain officially free status, the annual prevalence of infected herds must be less than 0.1% for six years.
To maintain the status, the rate of officially free herds must be greater than 99.9% on December 31 of each year and the country must demonstrate good surveillance capacities while respecting European regulations on tuberculosis.

The incidence in the UK, by the way, as a whole is 9.4% and in Scotland 0.6%.
Brittany is a particularly TB free area, being 500miles from any cases for over 25 years. This is why I wanted to know if there might be an interest in a service to safeguard valuable cattle.

 

[JP1]

Hear what you say. Same with CJD / BSE. Do they still have JCB disease in certain Departement from time to time?

 

[startinghandle]

At the moment cattle are selling good so taking into account haulage is there
room for profit for the next guy in France

 

[baaa]

Hear what you say. Same with CJD / BSE. Do they still have JCB disease in certain Departement from time to time?

i don't know I'll check it out.

 

[JP1]

i don't know I'll check it out.

Yes ask them about JCB disease

 

[baaa]

At the moment cattle are selling good so taking into account haulage is there
room for profit for the next guy in France

That is a big consideration. I was wondering whether it would be something of interest to specialist breeders who have developed their bloodlines for many years and finally have what they want.

 

[Cowmansam]

Can’t really see the point when you can just use an ai flask

 

[le bon paysan]

Hear what you say. Same with CJD / BSE. Do they still have JCB disease in certain Departement from time to time?

JP, the reason that the incidence of ESB in France was so low was because 1 case saw the whole herd culled and no restocking for 12 months. My friend here had bought an expensive dairy heifer at a show, the breeder of this heifer had his whole herd culled and my friend had his whole herd of 55 taken out as well , just because that heifer had been in his here.
The UK government wanted to "save money" by not following this example. The UK Farmers , Beef and Dairy industry picked up the tab!

 

[JP1]

JP, the reason that the incidence of ESB in France was so low was because 1 case saw the whole here culled and no restocking for 12 months. My friend here had bought an expensive dairy heifer at a show, the breeder of this heifer had his whole here culled and my friend had his whole here or 55 taken out as well , just because that heifer had been in his here.
The UK government wanted to "save money" by not following this example. The UK Farmers , Beef and Dairy industry picked up the tab!

Hmmmm JCB disease may have also played a part I fancy - same with TB thus far

 

[le bon paysan]

Hmmmm JCB disease may have also played a part I fancy - same with TB thus far

And what proof have you got that this is the case with tb.?
Don't forget , a tb reactor here sees the Chasse clear cull all wildlife susceptible in 3 km radius.
They took out a flock of sheep 20km. from here with tb reactors. How many sheep flocks are even tested in the uk? And maybe you should start testing them as well!

 

[le bon paysan]

Oh and while we are on the subject, the UK eradicated tb from all areas bar a tiny spot in the south west. What spread that around then and why have you let it get so bad? No JCBs in Staffs these days.?

 

[le bon paysan]

And, if your cattle get tb here the whole herd is taken, just like esb.
Fancy that method in the uk?
Thought not!

 

[Cowmansam]

I’d have no problem with that aslong as all wildlife that carries it is took aswell the reason it’s such an issue here is because badgers where protected for so long combined with improper testing I saw vets just waving cattle past not bothering to test the wild ones before now

 

[Cowmansam]

While you have the welsh government doing nothing the jobs a waste of time