ICSA expresses frustration over TB strategy

ICSA Animal Health and Welfare chair Hugh Farrell has expressed his ongoing frustration with the Department of Agriculture over its handling of the TB Eradication Programme.

“At the TB Forum there is a constant focus on asking farmers to do more, while at the same time the Department is continuing to fail farmers with its underwhelming wildlife programme.

“In particular, the Department of Agriculture must reconsider prioritising badger vaccination over culling as the vaccination programme has coincided with increasing TB numbers,” he said.

“A recent peer-reviewed scientific analysis of the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) badger control policy in England has revealed a 56% fall in the herd incidence rate of TB by following a badger culling policy.

“If badger culling in the UK can have such a significant impact on TB levels, we must seriously question the scientific advice ICSA and other farm organisations are receiving at the TB Forum where badger vaccination is heavily prioritised over culling – despite reactor numbers here going up, not down.”

The new study published in the Nature journal analysed the effect of badger culling on bovine TB rates across 52 areas in England.

“The 56% drop in herd incidence as result of badger culling amounts to an overall drop of 15% in reactor numbers in England in the 12 months to September 2023. This is in contrast to Wales where no culling programme exists, and reactor numbers increased by 2%.

“It is patently clear from this study that culling badgers is vital when it comes to reducing the levels of bovine TB. It is also patently clear that while the Department here has reduced culling in favour of vaccination that our TB numbers have gone up,” he said.