I propose to take Questions Nos. 578, 579 and 606 together.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the TB Compensation Scheme, as set out on page 19 of the Compensation booklet it states:
“Scans are not accepted by the Department as a means of verifying the pregnancy. The post mortem result carried out at the factory of slaughter is final in this regard”.
The Department does not accept scans as evidence of pregnancy since the post-mortem examination of reactors carried out in the factory is conducted by the TVI who is a qualified veterinary surgeon – this examination includes a visual examination of the uterus. This is the most accurate way to determine pregnancy status.
Furthermore, the pregnancy status of cattle may change between when the scan was carried out and when the animal was slaughtered and examined post-mortem. As the Deputy might be aware, the rates of foetal loss can be high, particularly in early pregnancy.
The TB compensation scheme is designed to ensure that all affected herdowners receive suitable compensation for each animal in question; the above method for determining pregnancy in a reactor animals ensures fairness to all herd-owners. It is important that factors influencing the rate of compensation payable for TB reactors are based on objective evidence and the Department considers that the examination of the uterus post-mortem by a veterinary surgeon fulfils this requirement in this regard.
