Wales Bovine TB News

"We're happy to do what we're doing in terms of cattle control and cattle testing" says NFU spokesman Stephen James.

"But we can't keep doing that and nothing happening about the wildlife".

"Until we get that [badger] cull and control the numbers, this disease is just going to increase".

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These figures are disappointing but do still reflect a significant reduction against the 2008/2009 peak in the number of cattle slaughtered in Wales as a result of bovine TB.

We remain committed to tackling Bovine TB given its impact on farmers and rural communities. However we know there is no quick fix to tackling this disease. It demands a sustainable and long term approach that includes a range of different measures including strict biosecurity controls and cattle movement restrictions

We are continuing with our comprehensive bovine TB eradication programme, which tackles all sources of infection. This includes annual TB testing of cattle, removal and slaughter of reactors, pre-movement testing of cattle and our five year badger vaccination programme.

Continued co-operation between government and industry is vital to the overall success of the eradication programme and we will continue to work closely with our partners to drive down the incidence of this terrible disease.

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Farmers' union NFU Cymru claims figures showing a 15% rise in the number of cattle in Wales slaughtered due to bovine TB indicates the disease is "out of control"

It follows nationwide figures published by Defra.

"This has to bea wakeup call to Welsh Government and highlights the urgent to implement a science led policy of badger control in endemic areas of the country rather than the Welsh Government’s vaccination policy" said Stephen James, NFU Cymru deputy president.

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Experts at Bangor University are claiming that hundreds of farmers have illegally killed badgers, amid the ongoing controversy over attempts to control the spread of TB to cattle.

The experts believe that more than ten per cent of farmers have taken direct action -- despite the law. But that's a claim that's been dismissed by farm leaders, as Kevin Ashford explains.

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Farmers in Wales who illegally cull badgers may be responsible for spreading Bovine TB.

That's according to a report published by the University of Bangor. It claims around one in ten of Wales' 14,000 livestock farmers had killed badgers in the twelve months leading up to the study.

The Welsh Government says badgers are protected animals, and the issue of illegally killing them is a matter for the police.

"You set a particular cull rate that you need to achieve for that to impact the disease and to decrease the rate of disease in an area" says Dr Paul Cross, from Bangor University.

"That's currently thought to be around 70% of all badgers. If you have an illegal killing rate going on the background that you're unaware of, you may have set the level of cull too high"

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The proportion of farmers estimated to have killed badgers should be considered by policymakers and in the wider debate.

Intensive badger culling is one approach being considered by policy makers, in an attempt to control the spread of tuberculosis in cattle. However, studies investigating the effects of badger culling on TB outbreaks in cattle have not factored in the prevalence of illegal badger killing, and its potential to spread disease.

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The Welsh Government is committed to eradicating Bovine TB, one of the biggest health problems facing cattle farmers in Wales.

There is no quick fix to tackling this disease. It demands a sustainable and long term approach and the application of a comprehensive range of measures including strict biosecurity , cattle testing and movement controls. Last year we vaccinated over 1,400 badgers against TB and will resume vaccination later this year.

"Badgers are protected animals in the UK and the issue of illegally killing them is therefore a matter for the police.

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A report suggests that livestock farmers in Wales who illegally cull badger sets may be contributing to the spread of bovine TB.

Researchers from Bangor University say around 10% of Wales' 14,000 livestock farmers had killed badgers in the 12 months preceding the study.

The data was gathered by talking to farmers at markets and livestock events in Wales last year. The report concludes that policymakers have to factor in illegal killing when tackling Bovine TB.

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Experts from New Zealand are among those in Cardiff for a conference hosted by the Welsh Government on the possible use of cattle vaccination to eradicate bovine TB.

Cattle vaccination is not currently allowed under EU legislation, because the best vaccine interferes with the main diagnostic test used to establish if herds have tuberculosis.

More than 1,400 badgers have so far been vaccinated under the Welsh Government's pilot programme to tackle bovine TB, which is being carried out in north Pembrokeshire, and parts of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire.

Welcome to our international delegates, here to consider how cattle vaccination could contribute to TB eradication. #TBvaccwales

From @EnviroMinWales on Twitter: (10:29 am, Mon 10 Dec 2012)

Am opening 2 day Welsh Govt workshop to advance thinking on role that a cattle vaccine should play in TB eradication. #TBvaccwales

From @EnviroMinWales on Twitter: (10:30 am, Mon 10 Dec 2012)

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