Defra has announced a new strategy to control Bovine TB with the aim of ending culling within 5 years. The measures will include a badger population survey and a national wildlife surveillance programme to provide an up-to-date understanding of disease in badgers and other wildlife such as deer. The Government will establish a new Badger Vaccinator Field Force and Badger vaccination study to assess its impact on the incidence of TB in cattle. They will also accelerate development of an effective cattle TB vaccination strategy. Defra says that “Existing cull processes will be honoured to ensure clarity for farmers involved in these culls whilst new measures can be rolled out and take effect.” Read the full announcement here.
