The On-farm Market Valuation Scheme is the principal compensation scheme available to farmers who suffer a bovine TB breakdown. Under this scheme, applications for compensation on the basis of a live valuation are issued to all farmers who suffer a breakdown with the exception of those whose animals are discovered to have TB lesions at the time of slaughter. Live valuations are carried out by a panel of independent valuers. Compensation is paid at a rate that the animal would ordinarily be expected to achieve on the open market if the animal was not diseased.