Profession supports TB awards scheme

The search is on for cattle farmers who have gone above and beyond government policy to tackle the risks of bTB.

The TB Advisory Service (TBAS) Awards 2021 feature a number of categories for individuals who have shown willing to #ControlTheControllable and reduce risk of a TB breakdown and the impact of TB on their businesses.

Criticism

The TBAS said farmers were often criticised in national media for not doing enough to prevent bTB, but the service said many were rising to the challenge and making key changes for the better.

It is encouraging farmers or their colleagues to nominate. Maybe they have invented a badger-proof trough, rethought breeding plans to reduce the impact TB would have on the business or changed buying practices to reduce the chances of bringing TB on to the farm.

Categories

The full list of categories are:

• Dairy farmer, sponsored by Arla
• Suckler farmer, sponsored by the Suckled Beef Producers Association
• Calf rearer/beef finisher, sponsored by Sell My Livestock
• Innovator, sponsored by the National Farmers Union
• On-farm advisor, sponsored by VetPartners

Judges

Judges are:

• James Wood, head of the University of Cambridge Department of Veterinary Medicine
• Stuart Roberts, deputy-president of the NFU
• Nikki Hopkins, BCVA president
• Andy Robertson, badger ecologist

Entries close on 31 December and full details are available on the TBAS website.