One in eight dead badgers in Wales found to carry TB, says report

Almost one in eight dead badgers referred to the Veterinary Laboratory Agency by regional authorities in Wales tested positive for bovine tuberculosis, prompting calls from farmers’ organisations for a review of the current strategy.

The VLA report, Survey of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers found dead in Wales is based on a study of 727 badgers found dead between October 2005 and May 2006.

Of the badgers found dead, 549 were submitted to the VLA for examination.  Of these 459 were considered suitable and culture tests for mycobacteria was performed on 457.  It revealed infection rates were, on average, 13% across Wales with levels in some counties double this. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly the greatest concentration of infected badgers was in the regions where cattle are also worst affected: TB in badgers was highest in Gwent (26%), Southern Powys (25%), Carmarthenshire (16%) and Pembrokeshire (15%), however, the majority of badgers submitted to the VLA also originated from these areas.

TB rates were lower in mid and north Wales where levels varied between 3% and 7%, but fewer badgers were submitted from these regions.

FUW President Gareth Vaughan said: “These figures confirm that one in every eight badgers in Wales is infected with this devastating disease and once again highlights the link between infected badgers and cattle.”

“It is no coincidence that the highest levels are in areas where TB in cattle is a major problem, despite strict testing regimes and the removal of infected cattle.”

“The levels in cattle are, by contrast, around one in 200 cattle infected. In simple terms the prevalence in badgers is 20 times higher than in cattle and in some of the worst affected areas the prevalence is around 50 times higher.

“Research has shown conclusively that removing infected wildlife reduces TB incidences and this policy has been adopted in the Republic of Ireland with major positive benefits.”