| Bovine Tuberculosis in Cattle and Badgers ('the Krebs Report') exec summary |
| Date published: 1997 |
| This was a government review of Bovine TB, chaired by Professor John Krebs, completed in Dec 1997. It concluded that badgers are a significant source of infection in cattle. But the review noted the effectiveness of badger culling as a control measure could not be quantified with the data then available. It recommended the relevant Government department (now DEFRA) should set up an experiment to quantify the impact of culling badgers. |
| Bovine TB: Towards a sustainable policy to control TB in cattle (1st Bourne Report) |
| Date published: 1998 |
| This is the first report from the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), chaired by Professor John Bourne, set up to advise on implementing the Krebs Report recommendations. The report announced a randomised badger culling trial and research related to diagnosis, development, spread and control of bTB in cattle and badgers. |
| The value of badger populations and control of tuberculosis in cattle |
| Date published: 2005 |
| This literature review, carried out by Reading University, concludes that there is strong evidence that badgers can provide a reservoir for infection. But replicating culling strategies employed in other countries is unlikely to improve the situation in this country. |
| Bovine TB: The Scientific Evidence (Final Bourne Report) |
| Date published: 2007 |
| The ISG’s final report, published in 2007, concluded that cattle-to-cattle transmission, as well as badgers, is also very important in high incidence areas and is the main cause of disease spread to new areas. The study found reactive culling actually increased bTB infection within culled areas. Proactive culling reduced bTB in cattle within culled areas, but led to an increase on adjoining unculled land. The ISG concluded that only sustained and coordinated proactive culling over a very large area would be effective. |
| Bovine Tuberculosis in Cattle and Badgers (report by David King) |
| Date published: 2007 |
| This is the report from Defra Chief Scientific Adviser, Prof. Sir David King, who was asked by DEFRA to assess scientific evidence in the ISG report and elsewhere. Published on 22 October 2007, it concluded removal of badgers could significantly contribute to control of bTB in cattle where its incidence is high and persistent, if carried out alongside effective cattle controls. |
| Response to “Tuberculosis in Cattle and Badgers: A report by the Chief Scientific Adviser” |
| Date published: 2007 |
| This was a response from the ISG, stating that Prof King's report contained fundamental flaws. |
| Identifying High-Risk Individuals in the Transmission of Bovine TB among Badgers and Cattle |
| Date published: 2009 |
| This study, from SAC and York University, used data loggers to monitor encounters between badgers and cattle. Researchers found that badgers and cattle come into contact with one another much more often than previously thought. Data also suggested that more sociable cattle were more likely to be curious about badgers, and therefore more likely to catch and then pass on any infection. |
| The duration of the effects of repeated widespread badger culling on cattle tuberculosis following the cessation of culling |
| Date published: 2010 |
| This study was published by scientists from Imperial College London and the Zoological Society of London. It says that, while widespread badger culls initially cut the incidence of bovine TB, any benefits disappear within four years of the cull being carried out. The report shows the number of infected cattle inside a cull zone fell by 38% in the weeks after badgers had been culled. But that benefit began to disappear within six months and, by the fourth year, had gone completely. Researchers also found the number of infected herds in 2km outside the cull areas increased due to perturbation - where usually territorial badgers are disturbed by the culling and move into new areas. |
| Modelling the Impact of Proactive Badger Culling on Bovine Tuberculosis Incidences using the Results of the Randomised Badger Culling Trials |
| Date published: 2010 |
| This is a scientific paper produced by the Farmers' Union of Wales. It used a computer model to show herd incidences of bovine TB could be reduced by 30% in a five-year cull and by a further 32% in the three-and-a half year period after culling had ceased. |