Bovine TB: Research project summary
Project SE3029: An investigation of potential badger/cattle interactions including the extent of badger visitations to farm buildings and food stores, and how cattle husbandry methods may limit these.
Project duration: 3 years.
The extent and frequency of badger visits to farmyards and buildings have been shown to be a widespread problem in the South West of England, often without the farmer realising. On the farms randomly selected, all had badger setts and territories within 500m of the farmyard. Generally low standards of biosecurity were revealed on farms and badgers gained ready access to all buildings. The most vulnerable buildings were feed stores where badgers were shown to exploit all feeds available. Badger visits were more frequent in the spring and summer in line with their known activity levels but also during dry periods. Most of the time badgers foraged and fed on farms with little scent marking/excretion occurring. On several farms badgers from more than one territory were present at the same time.
Interspecies interactions were not common in farmyards but when they occurred they did so with cattle. These were mainly at troughs but also in housing and some direct contact was made. In contrast although badgers were seen traversing pasture, no direct contact between badgers and cattle was observed here. The risks of cattle contact with excretory products within farmyards was compared with those at pasture and found to be more risky than cattle encountering badger urine at pasture.
One method of barrier control to exclude badgers from feed stores was used. It was successful in reducing risks whilst it was in place but highlighted the need to maintain improved biosecurity measures in order to maintain the benefit of reduced badger cattle contacts.
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July 7, 2008