A number of Farmers have been found guilty of illegally changing the ear tags of cattle, so that they can keep the highly productive TB cattle. The evidences of the fact were collected during a regional slaughterhouse survey conducted by Gloucestershire Trading Standards.

The Minister of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Jim Paice, has said that further investigations will be conducted in other countries also. The disease is widespread in South of the Border. The farmers of the region are compensated by referring to tables of fixed valuations that do not pay a fair price for high-value cattle.

Farmers in Scotland not suspected to be involved in the illegal act because Scotland is officially TB-free.

In order to control the situation, DNA tags will be inserted in the ear of cattle that test positive for TB at the time of test. These DNA tags remove a small tissue sample at the time of insertion which can then be DNA tested by Animal Health. The samples will be cross-checked on a random basis against the DNA from animals sent to slaughter.