Press Release - The beginning of all round, anti-TB, action at last

The beginning of all round, anti-TB, action at last.

Cattle farmers throughout the UK, but especially those in TB blighted areas across England, are relieved that Defra has, at last, decided to advance its disease control process so it begins to cover all sources of infection – not just spread between cattle.

More robust cattle restraints twinned with targeted activity against badgers is expected to begin in two, pre-selected, control zones sometime next summer after badger population counts are completed and licensing procedures, which will be managed by Natural England, have been approved.

An eight week consultation on exactly how badger control licenses should be issued is imminent. This will include establishment of the qualifications required by the trained marksmen who will take the frontline position in badger control activity on behalf of landowners and farmers.

“This is a positive move by Defra which is expected to give countrymen dependent on the maintenance of healthy cattle herds for their livelihoods a chance to prove, without qualification, that persistent reduction of the badger population over a sustained four year period triggers a proportionate reduction in cattle TB reactors which have to be slaughtered,” explained NBA director, Kim Haywood.

“However it is no cause for celebration. Defra is prepared to roll out twin-species controls into ten other zones but only if activity in the two original zones has been shown to be effective.”  This will put enormous pressure on the first two pilot areas and the NBA will be seeking assurances that farmers who take part will be protected from unwanted attention.

“This means that new controls, which focus on rifle shooting by trained and licensed marksmen, must show they are able to reduce the targeted badger population in the areas by 70 per cent, and it must be done humanely.”

“Landowners and farmers in the first two control zones, and the licensed marksmen they will employ, will have to work thoroughly and effectively to demonstrate that twin species controls based on careful use of rifles will deliver exactly what is expected of it – and can then be rolled out into other control areas that are damaged, just as badly, by persistent TB infection.”

“For decades now cattle farmers, have realised that if TB is not controlled on a twin-species, cattle and badger, basis it will expand, virtually unchecked, into previously TB-free areas to kill yet more cattle, harm more badgers, and inflict more, avoidable, economic damage on farm businesses.”

“The NBA has invested over a decade of argument and persuasion into achieving this long delayed, but still limited, success and is pleased that its creation five years ago of the control area concept, which foresaw farmer led action over areas of at least 150 square kilometres, has been pivotal in securing Defra’s acceptance of the principal of dual species control.”

 “Farmers in other parts of the UK can now expect that once the effectiveness of reducing badger populations in targeted areas within England becomes obvious then measures that embrace twin species control will be more easily adopted by their Government as well,” Ms Haywood added.

For more information contact:

Kim Haywood, NBA director.  Tel. 0131 336 1754 / 07967 698936

Bill Harper, NBA TB Committee Chairman. Tel: 07831 099182