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Badgers & Bovine Tuberculosis

The Wildlife Trusts are deeply concerned that the Government is considering a widespread cull of badgers to halt bovine TB despite the evidence that this will not work and is likely to make the situation worse.

Badgers and bTB: The facts

The incidence of bTB in Welsh cattle is unacceptably high.

We now know that bTB is present in Welsh badgers, deer, and a number of other species. Research has shown that a cull of badgers would either make matters worse or would be on such a scale as to be wholly unacceptable, both economically and morally.

We know that on-farm biosecurity measures can dramatically reduce the incidence of bTB. We also know that the new pre-movement testing regimes will prevent new incidences, and that the gamma interferon test trials may make this even more effective.

There is a strong belief that bTB is transmitted from a range of wildlife species - including badgers- to cattle, although scientists identify cattle-to-cattle as the main source of transmission.

The way forward

The Wildlife Trusts believe the solution lies in biosecurity, TB testing and, eventually, vaccination. Then can work to prevent transmission to and between cattle. The Welsh Assembly Government has made a good start on this with its work on biosecurity and the new system of pre-movement TB testing. As a result of this work, the Wildlife Trusts expect to see a significant decline in the number of outbreaks in future.

Clearly, the disease in wildlife populations should also be addressed. The best way is through vaccination. Research into a badger vaccine is being carried out by Defra and field trails are being undertaken on aWildlife Trust nature reserve in England to assess the susceptibility of vaccinated badgers to the disease.