A study investigating badger disturbance on the spread of bovine TB has been published and a consultation in Wales has been opened on a review of TB compensation for farmers.
Disturbing badger setts may increase the spread of TB in cattle, according to researchers from Queens University
Disturbing badger setts does not reduce the risk of bovine TB infection in cattle and may potentially worsen the intensity of an outbreak in an area, according to researchers at Queen’s University Belfast.
The study, carried out in conjunction the University of Glasgow and the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, found that 5% of badger setts in Northern Ireland had recent signs of interference such as digging and sett entrance blocking or unintentional disturbance such as livestock trampling or construction.
The research found that farm risk factors such as the number of cattle movements, international imports, proximity to neighbours with a TB outbreak and previous TB history were more strongly linked to herd risk than badger management measures or badger persecution.
However, interference was found to be higher in TB outbreak hotspots. Dr Neil Reid from QUB said that this trend could be because disturbing badger setts leads to the population spreading the disease or badger sett interference by farmers is more common in existing TB hotspots.
Consultation in Wales
Meanwhile, the Welsh government has opened a consultation on revised compensation for cattle slaughtered due to bovine TB that aims to penalise farmers who do not comply with legislation.
The proposed system would reduce compensation by up to 95% for Welsh farmers who conduct practices which can contribute to the spread of TB such as failing to test animals as required, feeding unpasteurised milk from a reactor and failing to meet the requirements of a Veterinary Requirements Notice (VRN).
VRNs give authority to government to issue farmers with notices to take certain actions to reduce the risk of spreading TB. The review also proposes to introduce a Biosecurity Improvement Notice, which will require farms to bring biosecurity up to standard but not set out specific actions like in a VRN.
Deputy minister for farming and food in Wales Rebecca Evans said: “We need a compensation system that encourages cattle keepers to play their part in eradicating this disease from Wales.”
This follows on from a consultation last year in Wales when it was decided not to introduce a table valuation system for compensating farmers for TB.
Bovine TD and Badger Disturbance – Queens University Study – 2014
(Source – Irish Farmers Journal – Peter Mc Cann – 20/08/2015)
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