A review of the bovine TB situation in England, led by Professor Charles Godfrey, has concluded that the goal of eradication of the disease by 2038 is still achievable, but will require urgent action across a number of areas.

The document, submitted to DEFRA, is an update to a major review done in 2018. In the latest version, the review team is clear that TB infected badgers do “pose a threat to local cattle herds” and that “it is reasonable to conclude culling made some positive contribution” towards the significantly lower disease levels recently seen in England.

However, the current UK government has pledged to end badger culling in England by 2029, so other actions will be necessary.

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“It is of great importance to develop effective non-lethal interventions to enable eradication, such as vaccination of badgers or reducing contact between badgers and cattle,” states the review.

The authors go on to note that evidence, including from the Republic of Ireland, is that vaccination of badgers comes with “significant challenges”, whether it is high costs or problems catching significant numbers of animals.

“Considerable effort will be required to scale-up vaccination so that it becomes a viable tool at scale,” states the review.

There is also reference made to the Test : Vaccinate : Remove (TVR) programme initially developed in NI, where infected badgers are culled and healthy animals are vaccinated. The review recommends that consideration should be given to using TVR in any future “emerging hotspots”.

Vaccine

The other main strategy to manage the disease in England is to develop a new test that can differentiate between vaccinated and TB-infected animals (a DIVA test).

Once in place, it would effectively mean farmers could vaccinate their cattle.

The Godfray review notes that significant progress has been made with development of a DIVA test since 2018, but “it is not yet guaranteed”.

Farmers

In their summary and conclusions, the report authors also repeat concerns expressed in 2018 that the controversy around badger culling deflects focus away from what individual farmers can do to help control the disease.

In particular, there has been poor take up of biosecurity measures, while trading of high-risk cattle is severely hampering disease control.

“There has been some progress, but all the industry bodies we spoke to recognised this as an issue and saw the need for industry to take more ownership of the problem,” states the Godfrey-led review.

ROI plan

Meanwhile Irish Farm Minister, Martin Heydon has published a new bovine TB action plan to help tackle rising rates in the Republic of Ireland.

It includes a commitment to use a TVR approach in areas where badger vaccination is being deployed and potentially increased culling of badgers in areas where TB incidence is high. The Minister also intends rolling out pre-movement testing as required under EU Animal Health Law.