Volume 1: Findings and Conclusions
5. The animal health story
Breeding

490 The other topic which falls within the context of animal health is that of breeding. In 1990, when it was unclear whether, or to what extent, BSE was a disease which would be maternally transmitted, a practical problem arose of concern to farmers: should they use the offspring of BSE cattle for breeding?

491 The British Veterinary Association and the MAFF veterinarians, headed by Mr Meldrum, were of one mind. Farmers should be advised that it was not desirable to breed from the progeny of BSE victims. Dr Pickles, who led in relation to BSE on behalf of DH, learned of this proposed advice. She considered that it was open to a number of objections, more political than veterinary, which MAFF officials had overlooked. SEAC had just been set up, and Dr Pickles succeeded in persuading Ministers that the new committee should be requested to consider the proposed advice.

492 SEAC did so at its first meeting, and expressed agreement, then and there, with Dr Pickles's reservations. We for our part had reservations about the use that was made of SEAC on this occasion and its outcome, though they did not lead us to criticise anyone involved. A full discussion of this matter is to be found in vol. 11: Scientists after Southwood.

493 The result was that MAFF did not advise farmers against breeding from the offspring of cattle which had been affected with BSE. An Advisory Note to farmers, which was issued in 1990, simply recommended that, if in doubt, farmers should consult their vet. Such a recommendation was not very helpful to farmers who received it. Given SEAC's advice that farmers should not be advised not to use the offspring of BSE cattle for breeding, we do not criticise the approach adopted in MAFF's Advisory Note.