"TB breakdowns can paralyse the management of commercial, development, and pedigree herds. Large herds in split locations which only have handling facilities on the main unit are especially vulnerable to avoidable, and costly, management disruption and we would urge that extra care is taken over possible TB in heifers purchased by this type of enterprise," said NBA vice-chairman Frank Momber. "Equally damaging is the discovery of TB in herds which are developing a specialised type of suckler cow aimed at producing beef cattle targeted at specialist markets.

"This type of breeder is either suffering from the loss of valuable foundation cows that are important to the advancement of their programmes or from TB decimating the number of cows specially developed to produce a premium earning, slaughter animal. Owners have also discovered that compensation offered under rate card valuations falls well below their real commercial value and so their businesses are hit on two counts."

Source: ic Teesside.co.uk

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