ARCHIVE: Bovine TB: Badgers and bTB

Badger ©Richard Yarnell 2002Bovine TB is predominantly a disease of cattle but can affect a range of species; there is a significant reservoir of infection in badgers.  The disease is transmitted between cattle, between badgers, and between the two species. 

Cattle measures will continue to be central to our bovine TB control programme but we will not succeed in eliminating the disease in cattle unless we also tackle the disease in badgers. No other country in the world with a similar reservoir in wildlife has eradicated TB from cattle without stringent wildlife control measures.

A badger control policy

The Coalition Government has committed, as part of a package of measures, to developing affordable options for a carefully-managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine TB. We have launched a consultation on on the Government’s proposed approach to badger control in England. 

We propose issuing licences to farmers/landowners who wish to cull and/or vaccinate badgers at their own expense. These culling licenses would be subject to strict licence criteria to ensure badger control is done effectively, humanely and with high regard for animal welfare.   This consultation will run until 8 December 2010.

Vaccination

As part of Defra’s commitment to tackling the issue of bovine TB (bTB), Government has invested in a significant research programme looking into the development of vaccines for both cattle and badgers. More information on vaccination is available here.

See also

Page last modified: 15 September 2010