Researchers claim they have new evidence showing how
bovine tuberculosis is transmitted between badgers and
cattle.
Mike Hutchings, of the animal health research group, at
SAC and Piran White, of York
University’s environment department, used data loggers to monitor
encounters between badgers and cattle.
They found that badgers and cattle come into contact with one
another much more often than previously thought.
Dr Hutchings said: "The belief that, out in the fields, badgers
and cattle avoided each other means we have been neglecting a
potentially significant area of disease transmission between the
species."
Adding to the significance of the findings was data suggesting
that more sociable cattle were more likely to be curious about
badgers, and therefore more likely to catch and then pass on any
infection, said Dr Hutchings.
An NFU spokesman said: "This
paper confirms that there is interaction between badgers and cattle
and, therefore, a circle of transmission of bovine TB between the
two species.
"We strongly believe that bTB policy creation should be led by
sound, scientific facts and welcome any new research which adds to
our growing knowledge and understanding of this pernicious
disease."
Badgers were a complex wildlife species and any new information
about their social and territorial interactions was to be welcomed,
the spokesman said.
But he added: “This report has been conducted on a small scale
and we do not feel it can be seen as a standalone piece of
scientific evidence for policy creation.
"The concept of individual cattle hubs is weak and is, in fact,
contradicted within the report.
"No account is taken of the animal welfare connotations of
disturbing cattle hierarchies implicit in the report
conclusions."
