IT problems delay DEFRA bTB stats
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has suspended the publication of statistics tracking Bovine Tuberculosis after technical problems with Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratory Agency's (AHVLA) new IT system. The problems were attributed to the SAM system, which has suffered a series of technical problems since its introduction in 2011. Test results are having to be logged in manually, which has dramatically slowed the collection of reactors.
The result has been considerable disruption. Farmers in hotspot areas report receiving no paperwork, receiving paperwork that is not relevant to their tests, or receiving improbable amounts that are 'contradictory and make no sense.' Some farmers have been unable to export their cattle as a direct consequence of the problems.
The difficulties compiling accurate statistics have obliged DEFRA to halt the publication of the monthly bTB incidence statistical notices. The new system was meant to generate the notices from September 2011, but the aforementioned technical issues mean that the most recent accessible information is that from August 2011. A statement on DEFRA's website announces that “Unfortunately we are not yet in a position to publish these statistics as there are still some issues to check and resolve.”
No date for the resumption of publication has been named. The decision to suspend the publication of the statistics was taken by DEFRA's Head of Profession for Statistics, who said “Defra statisticians and AHVLA are working together to resolve these issues and to minimise any further delay in publishing the statistics. We are working hard to address these issues and are prioritising this work and it is expect that these issues will be resolved shortly.”
The suspension of publication has drawn criticism from farmers and vets. Speaking to the NFU Council, Cornwall council delegate Martin Howlett said “The system is in a fair old mess. It is still a complete muddle for many farmers with letters coming in all direction telling us conflicting things,” and added that local vets of his acquaintance were ‘all very disoriented and totally fed up with how SAM is performing’.
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