FARMS minister George Eustice has urged farmers to find out more about the TB status of animals they are buying in.

Speaking after a case of bovine TB was confirmed on a farm in the Haswell area of East Durham he urged farmers in the area to carry out post-movement testing.

A spokesman for the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) said the infected animals had been slaughtered and the herd placed under movement restrictions.

He said: “It is believed that the infection was inadvertently carried in cattle bought from a high risk area of the country, where cases of bovine TB are much more prevalent.

TB testing of neighbouring holdings within a three kilometre radius is underway.

“Bovine TB can have a devastating effect on farm businesses, which is why there are strict measures to control it.”

On Wednesday, Mr Eustice – who was speaking at The Northern Farming Conference at Hexham mart – told the D&S Times that farmers in areas free of bovine TB need to know where the stock they buy has come from. “In high risk areas we have pre-movement testing,”

he said. “We have encouraged post movement testing as well, so if any animal has moved to a low risk area we encourage farmers to post test.”

A new initiative to encourage farmers to ask more about the TB status of animals they may buy was also launched on Wednesday.

Farmers are being urged to share details about the TB status of cattle they are selling, and the herd they are selling them from, so buyers have that information.

Auction marts across the country are helping to gather the information on behalf of clients and display it at sale.

It should say when the animal’s last pre-movement test was carried out, the date of the seller’s last routine herd test, and – where herds have had a TB breakdown – the date it was last declared officially TB free.

Adam Quinney, NFU vice president, welcomed the voluntary initiative which he hoped would happen at all sales across the country.

He said: “I would encourage all farmers to ask more about the cattle they buy in and talk to their auctioneer to ensure this information is being displayed at their local livestock market.

“Farmers should also consider how to use other ways to reduce the risk of a TB breakdown for themselves and their neighbours such as Approved Finishing Units.”

Bovine TB is currently a major problem in the South-West and West Midlands. More than 1,500 badgers, which are believed to spread the disease, have been killed since pilot culls were held in Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Dorothy Fairburn, regional director of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), said the County Durham case was disappointing for the industry and devastating for the farmer.

Bob Robson, chairman of Durham County Badger Group, acknowledged outbreaks were not uncommon, but said: “This shouldn’t have happened if all the bio-security measures farmers and markets are supposed to employ were in place.”