Table 12.1: BSE events and their impact on farmers
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CVL identifies a novel pathology which may be a TSE in cattle. |
Farmers were now faced with a new disease whose early signs were similar to the 'staggers', making detection difficult. |
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MAFF advised via the Veterinary Record that farmers should not breed from the offspring of BSE-affected animals. |
Not clear. It appears most farmers continued to breed from their cows as they saw fit, though vets may have advised them not to. |
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BSE was made notifiable by The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1988.
The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order 1988 implemented the slaughter and compensation policy |
Farmers or their vets were now required to notify their local MAFF Animal Health Office when they suspected any of their cattle had BSE. If the Animal Health Officer suspected BSE, movement restrictions were served via Form A, and if after further visits BSE was believed to be present, intention to slaughter was served via Form C. Compensation was set at 50 per cent if BSE was confirmed via histopathological examination and 100 per cent if not. |
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The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Order 1988 implemented the ruminant feed ban. |
Farmers could no longer feed their cattle feed containing ruminant MBM. Farmers were responsible for ensuring existing stocks were not fed to cattle, but reliance was placed on manufacturers to ensure future supplies were MBM-free. |
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The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (No. 2) Order 1988 came into force. |
Milk from BSE suspects could not be used for any purpose other than to feed the cow's own calf. |
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The Bovine Offal (Prohibition) Regulations 1989 came into force, which implemented the SBO ban. |
Following the SBO ban, charges for disposal of waste from abattoirs via normal routes increased, leading to greater use of farm land for spreading of blood and other slaughterhouse waste. |
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MAFF implemented a policy to remove all risk of BSE being transmitted via artificial insemination. |
Farmers holding licences to store semen became subject to MAFF notifying them if semen they held originated from a BSE-affected bull. Such semen was not tobe used. |
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The Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Compensation Order 1990 came intoforce, which introduced 100 per cent compensation (with ceiling) for all cattle slaughtered compulsorily. |
Farmers would now receive 100 per cent compensation for all cattle compulsorily slaughtered, as opposed to only for those cattle with BSE confirmed, as under the previous scheme. |
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SEAC advised that individual farmers should decide whether to breed from the offspring of affected animals. |
Not clear. It appears farmers had continued to breed from BSE offspring in any case. |
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MAFF issued 'Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE): Advisory Notes for Farmers'. |
It is not clear how this was distributed, or how many farmers received it. However, it contained information on BSE incidence and symptoms, notification procedures, slaughter and compensation, health and safety, and breeding. |
Various volumes, according to topic covered |
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Knackers and hunts began charging farmers to remove fallen animals. |
Evidence suggests that on-farm burial of carcasses increased, and that some carcasses might have been illegally dumped. |
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The Bovine Animals (Identification, Marking and Breeding Records) Order 1990 came into force. |
New record-keeping requirements were placed upon farmers. The main change was that records had to be retained for ten years instead of the existing three. |
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The Animal By-Products Order 1992 came into force, which required cattle carcasses to be disposed of by rendering in approved premises, incineration, or burial beyond reach of other animals. |
Not clear, but probably not significant as this Order basically restated existing requirements. |
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The Bovine Animals (Records, Identification and Movement) Order 1995 came into force. |
Reinforced existing requirements, and required that a movement document accompany each animal going to market. |
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