Fears after alpacas contract TB
15 July 2009 - BBC News
An alpaca farmer in Cornwall has had to have four of her animals put down
after they tested positive for Bovine TB.
Under Defra rules, there is no legal requirement for alpacas to be tested for
the disease.
Dianne Summers, who lives near Redruth, said "I've been through two lots of
skin testing already, but unfortunately we keeping getting false negatives,".
She said she can understand why other alpaca and llama owners are
reluctant to have their herds tested. "It could close their business down for 180 days, but you've got a moral and
ethical duty to the people you're selling animals to, or if you're attending
shows or offering matings you've got to think about their animals and not just
your own."
Alpacas have little resistance to TB and can die within six months of
catching it.
Ms Summers, who has no cattle on her land and is not aware of any badger
setts, said she does not know how her alpacas contracted Bovine TB.
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