Bovine TB: Fifth TB Advisory Group meeting - Wednesday 7th March
Summary of discussion
1. This was part of the series of fact-finding meetings the TB Advisory Group has been holding. The Group is meeting a number of organisations to get a balance of views on tackling TB from all interested parties.
2. The Chair confirmed that the Group had not been asked to consider badger culling; this question remains with Ministers. He and members had been appointed to advise in relation to whatever policies Ministers decide upon.
3. The Group invited the Badger Trust and the RSPCA to give their views on current controls and the options for controlling bovine TB in cattle and in wildlife.
Cattle controls
4. The Badger Trust believed that the current cattle testing and surveillance programme was not adequate to stop the continuous spread of the disease. They suggested a more rigorous testing regime should be adopted and the policy on direct contacts should be reviewed to reduce the risk of disease spread. As part of this process the risks presented by one potentially infected animal should be communicated to farmers and farming organisations. The Badger Trust were happy to help promote the cattle testing measures with farmers.
5. The RSPCA agreed with these comments. They also suggested that the gamma interferon blood test should be used more widely to help identify as many infected cattle as possible at the earliest opportunity. The Badger Trust agreed. They felt that Defra may not reach its target of 50,000 tests a year (as announced in October 2006). Defra stated the gamma interferon test was being carried out in prescribed circumstances to help prevent low risk or clean areas from developing into TB hotspots. However, there was some variation in use across the country which was being looked into.
6. Both the RSPCA and the Badger Trust felt more needed to be done to raise awareness of the benefits of using the gamma interferon test. The Badger Trust suggested that the TB Advisory Group could help raise awareness of the disease transmission risks with the aim of promoting the test.
7. The Badger Trust raised several questions with the Group (which will be published alongside this note shortly) about cattle controls. The Group agreed they would add these to their list of questions for consideration as they continue their work.
Wildlife controls
8. The Badger Trust stated that the only way to reduce the spread of the disease was to improve the existing cattle controls. Once they had been improved and given time to have an impact, controlling the wildlife might be an option, but good husbandry practices would also help in this area. The RSPCA cautioned that thought would need to be given to the consequences of removing the badger population on other wildlife and the environment.
9. The RSPCA considered it important to await the forthcoming final report of the Independent Scientific Group on the badger culling trial and the associated research programme as this would combine inputs from both veterinary and ecological science in controlling the disease.
10. The meeting then discussed the options for keeping badgers and cattle apart to reduce the risks of transmission. The Badger Trust stated that the evidence suggests that badger proofing measures will reduce contact but not reduce the risk of the disease from indirect transmission. Both the RSPCA and Badger Trust were of the view that if farmers did not believe the effort and investment required would reduce the risk of cattle getting bovine TB, then they would be unlikely to take action. The Badger Trust agreed that fencing off the whole farm, or land where cattle had access, could be a way forward to help prevent spread of the disease but animal welfare issues needed to be considered if badgers are kept out of their foraging areas.
11. The Badger Trust suggested using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect M.bovis in the environment to gain a better understanding of possible areas of transmission and the persistence of M. bovis in the environment. Defra stated that the PCR test needs to be validated and that it is commissioning research in this area.
12. The Group raised the concerns regularly mentioned in the media about the welfare of TB-infected badgers and whether this needed to be looked at aside from cattle. The Badger Trust and RSPCA considered that this was not an animal welfare measure that justified intervention because badgers could survive for years with bovine TB without exhibiting any signs of suffering.
13. The Group asked whether the wildlife groups would, in principle, support a vaccination for badgers. The Badger Trust confirmed that they would support use of a vaccine for badgers if it helped reduce the disease in the badger population. However, whilst also supportive, the RSPCA drew attention to the animal welfare implications for achieving a viable vaccine.
14. The Group found the constructive discussion very useful in gaining a better understanding of the Badger Trust’s and RSPCA’s views on bovine TB control policies.
Those present:
Peter Jinman (Chairman)
Brian Jennings
Bill Madders
James Kirkwood
Andrew Cunningham
Gabrielle Edwards, Defra
Amanda Roper, Defra
Teresa Filley, Defra, TB Advisory Group Secretary
Trevor Lawson, The Badger Trust
Richard Yarnell, The Badger Trust
Colin Booty, RSPCA
2 April 2007
Page last modified: 4 April 2007