Have your say on the battle to wipe out bovine TB

Defra is asking what farmers and landowners think about new proposals to improve bovine tuberculosis controls.

As part of the government’s 25-year programme to eradicate TB in England, Defra is seeking views on three consultations:

See also: Defra map reveals bovine TB ‘hotspots’

• Improving TB cattle controls, including a proposal for statutory post-movement testing (PDF) (Closes 23 October 2015)
• Changes to the criteria for future badger control licences such as reducing the minimum area for a licence (PDF) (Closes 25 September 2015)
• Controlling TB in non-bovine animals such as pigs, goats, and deer (PDF) (Closes 20 November 2015).

The results of the three consultations will be used to shape TB policy, including the future of the badger cull, in this country.

Farming organisations including the NFU and Country land and Business Association (CLA) and wildlife groups, including the Badger Trust and The Wildlife Trusts, have added their views to the consultations.

Farmers – @DefraGovUK are offering you a TB olive branch, but you have to do something. Start by reading this https://t.co/rgnN8etOwP

— Den Leonard (@DenLeonard) September 6, 2015

Online survey, DEFRA Consultation on guidance to Natural England on licences to control the risk of bTB from badgers http://t.co/Ic91RrzXI5

— Badger Trust (@BadgerTrust) September 16, 2015

NFU president Meurig Raymond said: “We are pleased that the government is pressing ahead with its 25-year strategy to eradicate bovine TB.

“The NFU believes the strategy – the first comprehensive plan to tackle bovine TB in England – gives us the best chance of controlling and eradicating this devastating disease and it is vital it is implemented in full as quickly as possible.”

John Blackwell, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), which has also responded to the consultations, said: “BVA has always argued that to control and eradicate bovine TB we need a comprehensive suite of measures that tackles all sources of infection.

“In particular, we welcome any proposals to extend and strengthen the tools we use to tackle bovine TB, such as improved surveillance and further cattle controls to halt the spread of TB northwards and eastwards.

“We also support greater attention being given to how the disease is spreading into non-bovines, such as pigs, goats and deer.”