Farm assurance 1

Question 1

Effects of BSE outbreak on farming

Answer 1

§ Collapse of export markets
§ Reduced value and prices for meat which has only
just returned
§ Reduced beef production within UK
§ More imports of beef
§ Some of these effects related to global over production of beef

Indirect effects

§ Changes in livestock production systems
§ Growth of alternative farming systems
§ Farm assurance and product certification
§ Development of the “precautionary principle” and extension of HACCP into food production

Question 2

Why is BSE a problem?

Answer 2

§ Able to cross species barrier?
– Cats
– Humans (nVCJD)
– Zoo animals
§ Potential zoonotic disease
§ Massive impacts on trade between countries
§ Very low incidence in most affected countries

Question 3

BSE: the history

Answer 3

§ Identified in UK in 1986
§ Infected cows then entered animal and human food chain and recycling of BSE cattle to cattle fuelled outbreak
§ Rapidly spread to national epidemic of circa 200,000 cases
§ Spread to other countries by export of infected MBM or cattle incubating disease

Question 4

BSE infection in cattle

Answer 4

• Cattle infected by oral ingestion of contaminated feed
• Enters lymphoid tissue
• Affects brain
• Clinical disease develops ~5 years after exposure
• Lymphoid tissues, brain spinal cord high risk tissues

Question 5

BSE control

Answer 5

• Cattle - prevent consumption of BSE infected material in food
• Humans - protect: consumption of BSE infected cattle and/or high risk tissues

Question 6

What has BSE done for the UK?

Answer 6

• spent £4000m
• dented image of science and scientists
• questioned food safety
• mixed science, economics and politics

Question 7

Red Tractor approach to Johnes

Answer 7

• since 2019 all red tractor dairy farms must have a Johnes management plan (doesn’t say the farm can’t have Johne’s - farm needs to be aware of its Johne’s status and is actively trying to reduce it)
  – this is over 95% dairies in the UK