TB strategy must target infected setts, say farmers

A farmer whose closed dairy herd has tested positive for bovine TB has urged the new Defra secretary to reassess the government’s strategy for tackling the disease.

Ian Corner, who farms a 270-head herd of pedigree Jersey cows near Bicester, Oxfordshire, said efforts to control the disease in cattle and wildlife were not working and the government must consider other ways to rid badgers of TB, including the removal of infected setts.

Mr Corner said he had not brought any animals on to his farm for 14 years and his cows had not come into contact with any other cattle, yet two animals tested positive for the disease following an annual herd test in February.

“All the animals were born on the farm and before February we’d never had one cow give an inconclusive reaction, never mind a positive test,” he added. “We’re a closed herd, but we’re on the edge of a TB area, so the only way it’s got here is via wildlife.”

Mr Corner said Defra should consider a more targeted badger culling policy such as the one adopted in Ireland, which allowed setts to be tested for the disease and destroyed if positive. The remaining healthy badgers could then be vaccinated, he said.

“Cattle movement restrictions are part of the solution in some areas, but for us it makes no difference – we need something more.

“If we have officials coming to test the cattle, why don’t they test the wildlife too so that we know what we are dealing with?

“If Defra grants licences to remove infected setts it at least gives us some control over the disease. I don’t know how else it can be stopped locally.”

Mr Corner said new Defra secretary Liz Truss needed to understand the current TB strategy was not robust enough.

“We’re not controlling TB, we’re just monitoring it, and it’s not fair on the badgers or our cattle.”

Herefordshire farmer Phillip Gorringe agreed that testing and removing infected setts needed to be the next approach before badger vaccination was considered.

“Unless we get rid of the disease we can’t even think about vaccination. It won’t do any good,” he added. “The infrastructure to test the setts is there already – if the AHVLA can test cattle, they can also test setts and issue the licences to destroy infected ones.”

See also: Truss confirms badger cull will continue

Mr Gorringe said the biggest challenge would be finding a humane way to destroy setts.

“To politicians and badger lovers, gassing setts brings up images of war trenches, and that’s not acceptable. We need to come up with alternatives,” he said. “It’s not rocket science, but it has be humane.”

A Defra spokesman said: “Our comprehensive strategy to tackle bovine TB recognises the need to adopt approaches as new evidence and technology become available.”

Farmers want badger setts to be tested for TB in the same way cattle are.