Transparency data

March 2022

Updated 28 March 2024

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Compensation payable during March 2022, in England for a bovine animal compulsorily slaughtered for Bovine TB, Brucellosis and EBL disease control purposes will be as detailed below.

1. Table of Non-pedigree Bovine Categories

1.1 Beef Sector

Male Female
Age Compensation due (£/head) Age Compensation due (£/head)
Up to 3 months 229 Up to 3 months 173
Over 3 months up to 6 months 430 Over 3 months up to 6 months 357
Over 6 months up to 9 months 782 Over 6 months up to 9 months 674
Over 9 months up to 12 months 960 Over 9 months up to 12 months 819
Over 12 months up to 16 months 1,078 Over 12 months up to 16 months 929
Over 16 months up to 20 months 1,179 Over 16 months up to 20 months (including calved) 1,058
20 months and over 1,285 20 months and over not calved 1,206
Breeding bulls 20 months and over 1,567 20 months and over calved 1,043

1.2 Dairy Sector

Male Female
Age Compensation due (£/head) Age Compensation due (£/head)
Up to 3 months 69 Up to 3 months 179
Over 3 months up to 6 months 192 Over 3 months up to 6 months 296
Over 6 months up to 12 months 392 Over 6 months up to 12 months 436
Over 12 months up to 16 months 836 Over 12 months up to 16 months 665
Over 16 months up to 20 months 915 Over 16 months up to 20 months 841
20 months and over 980 Over 20 months and up to 84 months calved 1,468
    Over 20 months and up to 84 months not calved 1,046
    Over 84 months 990

2. Table of Pedigree Bovine Categories

2.1 Beef Sector

Male - applies to entire males (bulls) only. Steers receive non-pedigree compensation. Female
Age Compensation due (£/head) Age Compensation due (£/head)
0 months up to 6 months * 0 months up to 6 months *
6 months up to 12 months * 6 months up to 12 months 3,201**
Over 12 months up to 24 months 5,598 Over 12 months to 24 months 2,511
Bull 24 months and over 2,249 24 months and over (not calved) 2,518
    Calved over 24 months and up to 36 months *
    Calved 36 months and over 2,284

2.2 Dairy Sector

Male - applies to entire males (bulls) only. Steers receive non-pedigree compensation. Female
Age Compensation due (£/head) Age Compensation due (£/head)
Up to 2 months * Up to 2 months 413
Over 2 months up to 12 months * Over 2 months up to 10 months 974
Over 12 months up to 24 months 2,519 Over 10 months up to 18 months 967
Bull 24 months and over * Over 18 months not calved 1,384
    Calved over 18 months and up to 36 months 1,844
    Calved over 36 months and up to 84 months 1,651
    Calved over 84 months 1,066

* Compensation to be determined using individual valuation

** Previously ascertained market price

3. Notes

  1. The above table details the compensation payable for those animals slaughtered because they are either affected with bovine TB, BSE, Brucellosis or EBL or are suspected of having one of these diseases; or are the offspring or cohorts of confirmed BSE cases.

  2. Compensation for bovine animals slaughtered for Bovine TB, EBL and Brucellosis is calculated in England under the Cattle Compensation (England) Order 2019 (based upon average livestock market prices for the relevant categories) and the Individual Ascertainment of Value (England) Order 2019. Compensation for bovine animals slaughtered for BSE is calculated in England under the TSE (England) Regulations 2018, in Wales under the TSE (Wales) Regulations 2018, and in Scotland under the TSE (Scotland) Regulations 2010 (as amended), which use data from the same system as England.

  3. Table valuations are entirely objective and based on real market data. Rates for the 51 cattle categories are determined using large amounts of contemporaneous sales data for same category, but disease free, cattle. Sales data for around 1.4m cattle is collected each year to support table valuations. For non-pedigree table values one month’s sales data is used, whereas six months’ data is used to determine table values for pedigree animals to ensure that data from either of the key sales periods in spring or autumn is included in the calculation.

  4. The values in the table of categories above have been derived from sales information obtained from store markets, prime markets, rearing calf sales, breeding sales and dispersal sales in Great Britain between 20 January 2022 and 20 February 2022 for non-pedigree animals, and between 21 August 2021 and 20 February 2022 for pedigree animals.

  5. Each calendar year, a statistical analysis of sales data collected during a twelve-month period, is carried out to determine the minimum number of sales records required to enable Defra to have 95% confidence that the market price calculated for each category is within 20% of the population mean (all cattle sales for that category). This statistical data has helped Defra identify the level of variability in sales prices for each category. This intelligence is used to determine when there is insufficient data to support a table valuation for any particular category.

  6. Where the Secretary of State considers that the sales data for any particular bovine category in any given month are inadequate, or such price data is unavailable, the compensation payable will either be at the level of the most recently ascertained value for the same category, or alternatively the Secretary of State may opt to pay compensation at the level of the market value of the animal in question, as ascertained under the Individual Ascertainment of Value (England) Order 2019 or the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (England) Regulations 2018.

  7. Where an owner slaughters an animal voluntarily and privately (which must be agreed with the Department) no compensation is payable, such as, the owner accepts the salvage payment from the slaughterhouse in lieu of Defra compensation.

  8. Compensation may be reduced for TB reactor cattle disclosed in herds with overdue TB tests.

Date published: February 2022 APHA TB Finance Team