Transparency data

May 2023

Updated 24 December 2024

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Compensation payable during May 2023, in England for a bovine animal compulsorily slaughtered for Bovine TB, Brucellosis and EBL disease control purposes will be as detailed below.

Table of non-pedigree bovine categories

Beef sector

Male (age)	Compensation due (£ per head)	Female (age)	Compensation due (£ per head)
Up to 3 months	172	Up to 3 months	126
Over 3 months up to 6 months	421	Over 3 months up to 6 months	355
Over 6 months up to 9 months	726	Over 6 months up to 9 months	580
Over 9 months up to 12 months	1,076	Over 9 months up to 12 months	919
Over 12 months up to 16 months	1,177	Over 12 months up to 16 months	1,001
Over 16 months up to 20 months	1,281	Over 16 months up to 20 months (including calved)	1,122
20 months and over	1,484	20 months and over not calved	1,345
Breeding bulls 20 months and over	1,534**	20 months and over calved	1,064

Dairy sector

Male (age)	Compensation due (£ per head)	Female (age)	Compensation due (£ per head)
Up to 3 months	53	Up to 3 months	119
Over 3 months up to 6 months	190	Over 3 months up to 6 months	328
Over 6 months up to 12 months	428	Over 6 months up to 12 months	489
Over 12 months up to 16 months	767	Over 12 months up to 16 months	652
Over 16 months up to 20 months	1,019	Over 16 months up to 20 months	890
20 months and over	1,090	Over 20 months and up to 84 months calved	1,640
-	-	Over 20 months and up to 84 months not calved	1,130
-	-	Over 84 months	1,119

Table of pedigree bovine categories

Beef sector

Male (age) - applies to entire males (bulls) only. Steers receive non-pedigree compensation	Compensation due (£ per head)	Female (age)	Compensation due (£ per 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	2,333
Over 12 months up to 24 months	5,684	Over 12 months to 24 months	2,024
Bull 24 months and over	2,800	24 months and over (not calved)	2,275
-	-	Calved over 24 months and up to 36 months	*
-	-	Calved 36 months and over	1,554

Dairy sector

Male (age) - applies to entire males (bulls) only. Steers receive non-pedigree compensation	Compensation due (£ per head)	Female (age)	Compensation due (£ per head)
Up to 2 months	*	Up to 2 months	559**
Over 2 months up to 12 months	*	Over 2 months up to 10 months	916
Over 12 months up to 24 months	3,432	Over 10 months up to 18 months	1,037
Bull 24 months and over	*	Over 18 months not calved	1,388
-	-	Calved over 18 months and up to 36 months	2,109
-	-	Calved over 36 months and up to 84 months	1,873
-	-	Calved over 84 months	1,345

* Compensation to be determined using individual valuation

** Previously ascertained market price

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 March 2023 and 20 April 2023 for non-pedigree animals, and between 21 Oct 2022 and 20 April 2023 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, i.e. 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: April 2023 APHA TB Finance Team