Bovine TB: Research project summary
Project SE3116: The economic value of changes in badger population
Project duration: 1 year 6 months
In order to provide data for an on-going cost-benefit analysis of alternative bovine TB (bTB) control policies, research has been carried out at Reading University to estimate the value that society places on changes in the size of the badger population. Research involved a survey questionnaire, including a choice experiment, that was administered by telephone interviews with 400 respondents in England and Wales. Using statistical modeling techniques the research estimated that, based on people's attitudes and preferences, society attributes a value of £28 per badger per year to a change in the size of the badger population. An estimated value was also derived for a reduction in cattle slaughtered due to bTB of £3,750 per animal slaughtered per year. More work is required to derive a quantitative estimate of society's attitudes and preferences concerning alternative bTB management strategies.
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Page last modified:
July 7, 2008