Defra extends bovine TB consultation on targeted culling

Cattle farmers and industry representatives have been given more time to respond to a bovine TB consultation on proposals for a “targeted badger intervention policy” in England.

Defra has announced a two-week extension to its consultation on bovine TB and the next phase of wildlife control. The new deadline to submit responses is 11.59pm on Monday 13 May, 2024.

The proposals would allow ministers to reserve the option of culling badgers in areas of England where there is epidemiological evidence to support it.

See also: Badger culling policy reduces cattle TB by 56%, study shows

For this to happen, both high levels of TB infection in cattle and evidence that badgers play a part in the local disease problem would be necessary.

Defra said: “In these targeted areas, culling would continue until the disease situation has improved, based on an annual review by the UK’s chief veterinary officer.

“Badger vaccination would then be used to ensure the results achieved through culling are maintained. This will prevent the return of disease in these areas.”

The Defra consultation is also seeking views on publishing animal-level bovine TB risk information on the ibTB mapping app. This would support responsible cattle movements and purchases.

Have your say – NFU

NFU Livestock Board chairman David Barton, addressing the union’s quarterly council meeting last week, urged all cattle farmers in England to have their say on the consultation.

“We need to have the opportunity going forward to make sure we can control wildlife where the epidemiology suggests that we need to,” said Mr Barton.

“That’s really important and certainly needs to happen before the election, I would suggest.”

A Defra spokeman said: “To give people more time to reply, ministers decided to extend the consultation period by an additional few weeks.”