FARMERS in Yorkshire and the North-East are calling for the area to be officially declared bovine TB free.

The region has a lower incidence rate than Scotland, which already has "free" status and the NFU's North-East region believes official recognition could help boost livestock trade between the two.

It was one of the proposals it planned to put forward in response to a government consultation document on bovine TB – but that consultation has been unexpectedly postponed.

The region is currently classed as "low risk" and the consultation was expected to propose introducing compulsory post-movement testing of cattle that are brought in from "high risk" and "edge" areas.

Richard Findlay, the NFU's North-East regional livestock board chairman, said they were in full support of the extra testing.

There had been a low incidence of the disease in the region, which had all involved cattle that had been brought in from high risk areas.

"These cattle are passing pre-movement tests, which say they are clear, but which have been found to be carrying it later," said Mr Findlay, who said the test was not 100 per cent reliable.

"There has been a very small number and, so far, we have been successful in stamping on it and keeping it out of wildlife, but it is naturally a concern to farmers. If it ever got into the wildlife we would be stuffed."

Compulsory post-movement testing would strengthen their defences and catch such cattle earlier than leaving it to later routine testing.

Mr Findlay said farmers were bitterly disappointed by the postponement of the consultation and frustrated by the Government's apparent lack of action on pressing ahead with its 25-year bovine TB eradication programme, which had been a Conservative election manifesto pledge.

"We really did think they would get on with it, especially now they have a majority, but they do not seem to be," said Mr Findlay.

He hopes to raise the issue with Elizabeth Truss, Environment Secretary, during her expected visit to next week's Great Yorkshire Show.

Mr Findlay said: "We have a great opportunity to get official bovine TB free status in the region. It would give us greater control and would help trade with Scotland."

Defra has said its long term strategy to eradicate bovine TB is on track.