Hundreds of cattle have died or been culled following cases of botulism across the UK in recent weeks.
Feed contamination under investigation
Both the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are investigating cases in Essex, Northamptonshire and Shopshire, which are believed to be linked to contaminated animal feed.
Feed withdrawn from market
Jodie Wild, FSA head of incidents, said the contaminated animal feed has been withdrawn from sale: “We’re working closely with government and local authority partners in response to an outbreak of botulism in cattle thought to be linked to animal feed.
“We are taking action to safeguard the food and animal feed supply chain and taking precautionary action to protect both the public and animal health and welfare.
“An animal feed product has been withdrawn from the market on a precautionary basis. We won’t hesitate to take further rapid action to protect animal health,” she said.
We won’t hesitate to take further rapid action to protect animal health.” – Jodie Wild, FSA
No immediate risk to human health
While there is currently no indication of any immediate risk to human health, the APHA said it was aware of several suspected cases.
“APHA Regional Laboratories are involved with on-farm and laboratory investigations into cattle deaths that appear to be linked to the suspected feed contamination,” said a spokesperson.
Feed recipients contacted
The UK’s animal trade body, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) said it was aware of the suspected fatal botulism cases, which it said were potentially linked to product supplied by feed business certified under the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme (UFAS) and the Feed Materials Assurance Scheme (FEMAS).
The AIC has held talks with a range of stakeholders in recent days to address the situation.
In a statement, it said: “All recipients of potentially contaminated feed have been contacted by their supplier. The business is working closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that all potentially affected feed has been isolated and to help establish the root cause of the issues.
“At this stage, investigations are ongoing, and no definitive cause has been confirmed.”
Generally, cases of botulism in the UK are relatively rare but in recent years have included cases associated with broiler litter, suspected random carcase material on pastureland and contaminated feed.
Previous feed-linked outbreak
In 2017, botulism was diagnosed in a group of 39 housed high yielding dairy cows fed on a silage-based total mixed ration. On the first day of the outbreak there were 4 cases, with the animals showing weakness and flaccid paralysis. They all died within 6 hours. Over the next 4 days there were further losses including animals with severe signs that were euthanised on welfare grounds. All but 1 of the 39 animals died.
Botulism toxin testing confirmed the presence of toxin type C/D in intestinal content, and the presence of C. Botulinum type DC bacteria was confirmed by PCR.
