Commenting on government plans for the next stage of its 25-year bovine TB eradication strategy including field trials of a cattle vaccine, plans to vaccinate more badgers against the disease and improved testing to intercept bTB earlier, NFU Deputy President Stuart Roberts said:
“Bovine TB continues to devastate family farming businesses across large parts of the country. Last year nearly 33,000 cattle were slaughtered in England because of this terrible disease. In order to control and eradicate bTB it’s important to see that the report acknowledges the need to retain intensive culling in a targeted way where the epidemiological evidence requires it. The NFU has always been absolutely clear that any move away from an intensive culling policy – whether that’s in five years, 10 years or longer- should not be rushed and sufficient science and evidence must support any such move. In areas where TB in badgers is endemic, we must retain culling as a vital tool enabling industry to get on top of the disease quickly and reduce further transmission.
View yesterday's announcement here: Government sets out next phase of strategy to combat bovine tuberculosis - Defra
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Posted On: 06/03/2020