Bovine vaccine and bovine tuberculosis skin test trials could end controversial badger slaughter

Trials have started on a bovine vaccine and a new skin test for bovine tuberculosis (TBB) that could end the controversial cull of badgers.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) is conducting field trials on a farm in Hertfordshire, as part of a change in government strategy to phase out the slaughter of badgers and deploy a vaccine by 2025.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Bovine tuberculosis is one of the most difficult and intractable animal health challenges facing the UK today.

“The culling of the badger has resulted in a significant reduction in the disease, but no one wants to go on with the culling of a protected species indefinitely.

“That is why we are now building on this progress by accelerating other elements of our strategy, including vaccination of livestock and improved testing so that we can eradicate this insidious disease and begin to phase out the slaughter of animals. badgers as soon as possible. “

Bovine tuberculosis costs taxpayers around £ 100million a year, with more than 36,000 cattle slaughtered last year to control the disease which primarily affects their respiratory systems.

A joint statement from the chief veterinarians of England, Scotland and Wales said the trials were an “important step forward”.

“If successful, the world-class project could lead to the very first deployment of a bovine tuberculosis vaccine and Diva skin test and will help turn the tide against this terrible disease which is affecting many countries across the world. world, ”they added.

Badgers, a protected species, are able to transmit the disease to livestock, although wildlife activists say they are not the main cause of the spread to livestock.

Dawn Varley, Acting CEO of Badger Trust, said: “We have been calling for a serious investment in a vaccine for cattle for over 10 years, as TB is a disease of cattle, transmitted from cattle to cattle, and primarily by cattle. movement of livestock from one farm to another. , so it is only by tackling cattle disease that the battle will be won.

The vaccine has already been tested in countries including New Zealand.

But the new skin test will allow vets to identify which cattle have been vaccinated and which are infected with the disease, which was not possible before.

The first phase of testing will determine the safety and accuracy of the Diva skin test, starting with the farm in Hertfordshire and then expanding to other farms in England and Wales.

If successful, phase two will see both the vaccine and the skin test tested together to gather evidence to clear the products for use in the UK.

Ms Varley praised the program but added: ‘With 140,000 badgers killed since 2013 and culling to continue until 2025, as the government confirmed earlier this year, we estimate another 140,000 badgers are due. still be slaughtered.

“That’s 280,000 out of an estimated population of 485,000 – a horrific number, and one that we believe endangers the viability of local populations.”