Farming

No direct contact needed for bTB

Published

9 years ago

September 2, 2016

Prof Rosie Woodroffe: ‘Hard to offer farmers advice’

NEW findings from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Imperial College London suggest that badgers and cattle rarely meet – and that direct contact between the two is not a likely source of transmission of bovine TB.

The stated aim of the badger culls, which began as pilots intended to trial ‘controlled shooting’ of free running badgers in two areas of South West England, but were expanded to include the more expensive trap-and-shoot and a new cull zone before the initial trial period had finished, was to reduce the ‘wildlife reservoir’ of bovine TB in badgers.

The new research shows that while badgers do favour cattle pasture as a habitat, they typically avoid cattle themselves and rarely get close enough to transmit infection directly. In the study, researchers used GPS collars to track the movements of badgers and cattle across 20 farms in Cornwall. They didn’t find a single incidence of badgers and cattle coming face to face and said that, if anything, badgers tended to avoid larger animals, preferring to keep 50m between themselves and cows.

They said that any bovine TB transmission between the species is likely to come from their shared environment – possibly from infected urine or faeces in pastures, possibly from other cattle as well as badgers – rather than direct contact. Imperial College London researchers said their discovery means advice to farmers on controlling bTB may require a rethink and ‘paves the way for novel approaches to managing this controversial disease’.

BTB HARD TO CONTROL

The findings could shed light on just why bTB is so hard to control, even when badgers and cattle are being culled, because the bacteria that cause the disease can persist in the environment for months.

Earlier research from the government’s Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA, now APHA) which used surveillance cameras on 75 farms to look at possible ways of badger-proofing farms captured footage of badgers attempting to access cattle feed in sheds and fields. Defra said its bTB control strategy still includes wildlife-proofing high risk farms.

Discussing the recent findings, Professor Rosie Woodroffe, a senior ZSL researcher and a visiting professor at the School of Public Health at Imperial, who has spoken out against the government’s badger culling policy, said: “It has been known for a long time that badgers can transmit TB to cattle – but without knowing how they do it, it is hard to offer farmers advice on the most promising ways to protect their herds.

“Our study provides the strongest evidence yet that transmission is happening through the environment, helping to explain why controlling TB is so difficult. This work marks the first step towards identifying more effective ways to reduce transmission between badgers and cattle, and also potentially better ways to manage cattle-to-cattle transmission as well.”

It has long been known that badgers can pass bovine TB on to cattle, but an increasing body of research has shown that patterns of infection are very complex – that cattle-to-cattle transmission is the most common source of bTB on farms and that cattle can pass the disease to badgers – and this means badgers’ role in transmitting the disease, which can also affect a host of other wild and domestic species, is unclear.

‘NO CERTAINTY’

Speaking to the BBC, Prof Woodroffe said: “There are loads and loads of things that farmers are being advised to do and there is no certainty that any of them will actually work and because of this, hardly any farmers implement any of these sorts of measures. If we can focus on the things most likely to work on that massive array of things farmers are being advised to do, more people will do them.”

The researchers, whose work was funded by Defra, are now scanning fields to see where TB bacteria are present.

Defra is expected to announce that its highly controversial cull will be expanded into new areas of the South-West later this summer.

A COMPLEX DISEASE

A NFU Cymru spokesperson said: “Bovine TB is a complex disease that must be tackled in the round, including addressing wildlife disease reservoirs, if we are to stand any chance of eradicating the disease. The role played by badgers in the spread of bovine TB is well known and widely accepted. Badgers are recognised as a significant wildlife reservoir of the disease in areas where it is endemic. Research has shown that badgers could contribute to up to 50% of cattle herd TB breakdowns in areas where the disease is rife.

“NFU Cymru has always said that we must use all options available if we are to stand a chance of controlling and eradicating this devastating disease. Cattle movement controls, cattle testing and on-farm biosecurity all have a vital role to play in a TB eradication plan, but experience from across the globe and indeed from our neighbours across the border in England and across the Irish Sea, have shown that a genuine TB eradication plan must also include a strategy for dealing with the disease reservoir in wildlife, in areas where it is endemic.

“From its inception, NFU Cymru has consistently raised concerns about the cost and effectiveness of the Welsh Government’s badger vaccination policy in the Intensive Action Area (IAA) in North Pembrokeshire. Four years in to what was supposed to be a five year programme, a global shortage of the BCG vaccination has led to its premature curtailment. A bovine TB wildlife strategy predicated solely on the vaccination of badgers is not a viable or sustainable policy option.

“Farmers in the IAA and across the whole of Wales are playing their part in bearing down on the disease t h r o u g h s t r i n g e n t cattle control measures, but the reservoir of infection that exists in wildlife has not been confronted. If the Welsh Government is genuine about eradicating Bovine TB in Wales then it has to implement a policy of targeted culling of badgers in areas where the disease is endemic that will actively remove the disease from the badger population in these areas.”

NO NEW EVIDENCE

A Welsh Government spokesperson told The Herald: “We are fully aware of this interesting work by Professor Rosie Woodroffe, which we have discussed with her in some detail.

“We remain committed to a science-led approach to the eradication of bovine TB. Our current programme includes the testing of cattle, strict biosecurity measures and movement control. This is aimed at tackling all sources of infection. The latest statistics show the number of new TB incidents in the 12 months to April 2016 reduced by 17%.

“We will continue to study all the available evidence relating to the transmission and prevention of bovine TB and are considering how Professor Woodroffe’s observations might feed into continued development of our TB programme. The Cabinet Secretary will make a statement on the Welsh Government’s refreshed TB eradication programme in the autumn.”

FUW Senior Policy Officer Dr Hazel Wright told us: “The latest study by Professor Woodroffe and colleagues provides no new evidence on the issue of bovine TB transmission. The FUW has long recognised that infected badgers can contaminate both pasture and housing via the excretion of M. bovis bacilli in urine, faeces, sputum and exudate from open abscesses.

“Farmers continue to adhere to strict cattle testing, movement and biosecurity measures in an attempt to reduce the level of transmission from badgers to cattle. However, in the absence of any badger control mechanisms, such cattle measures will only have a limited effect on disease eradication whilst having a very significant emotional and financial impact on farm businesses.”

Farming

Welsh Conservatives warn climate plans could mean fewer livestock on Welsh farms

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have challenged the Welsh Government over climate change policies they say could lead to reductions in livestock numbers across Wales, raising concerns about the future of Welsh farming.

The row follows the Welsh Government’s decision, alongside Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Liberal Democrats, to support the UK Climate Change Committee’s Fourth Carbon Budget, which sets out the pathway towards Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The Carbon Budget, produced by the independent Climate Change Committee (CCC), states that meeting Net Zero targets will require a reduction in agricultural emissions, including changes to land use and, in some scenarios, a reduction in livestock numbers.

During questioning in the Senedd, the Welsh Conservatives pressed the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on whether the Welsh Government supports reducing livestock numbers as part of its climate strategy.

Speaking after the exchange, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said the Welsh Government could not distance itself from the implications of the policy it had backed.

Mr Kurtz said: “By voting in favour of these climate change regulations, Labour, Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats have signed up to the UK Climate Change Committee’s call to cut livestock numbers in Wales, and they cannot dodge that reality.

“The Deputy First Minister’s smoke-and-mirrors answers only confirm what farmers already fear: that Labour, along with their budget bedfellows in Plaid and the Lib Dems, are prepared to sacrifice Welsh agriculture in pursuit of climate targets.”

He added that the issue came at a time of growing pressure on the farming sector, pointing to uncertainty over the proposed Sustainable Farming Scheme, the ongoing failure to eradicate bovine TB, nitrogen pollution regulations under the Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs), and proposed changes to inheritance tax rules affecting family farms.

The Welsh Government has repeatedly said it does not have a target to forcibly reduce livestock numbers and has argued that future emissions reductions will come through a combination of improved farming practices, environmental land management, and changes in land use agreed with farmers.

Ministers have also said the Sustainable Farming Scheme, which is due to replace the Basic Payment Scheme, is intended to reward farmers for food production alongside environmental outcomes, rather than remove land from agriculture.

The UK Climate Change Committee, which advises governments across the UK, has stressed that its pathways are based on modelling rather than fixed quotas, and that devolved governments have flexibility in how targets are met.

However, farming unions and rural groups in Wales have warned that policies focused on emissions reduction risk undermining the viability of livestock farming, particularly in upland and marginal areas where alternatives to grazing are limited.

The debate highlights the growing tension between climate targets and food production in Wales, with livestock farming remaining a central part of the rural economy and Welsh cultural identity.

As discussions continue over the final shape of the Sustainable Farming Scheme and Wales’ long-term climate plans, pressure is mounting on the Welsh Government to reassure farmers that climate policy will not come at the expense of the sector’s survival.

Farming

FUW Insurance Services appoints Paul Jameson as non-executive director

Published

4 days ago

December 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Experienced insurance and risk specialist joins board as long-serving director retires

FUW INSURANCE SERVICS LTD, Wales’ leading specialist agricultural insurance broker, has announced the appointment of Dr Paul Jameson as a non-executive director.

Dr Jameson brings extensive experience in insurance and risk management, having worked as an actuary and senior executive within subsidiaries of major global insurers including Allianz, Munich Re, Legal & General and Wakam. He has held chief risk officer roles since 2020.

During his career, Dr Jameson has led multidisciplinary teams spanning actuarial services, risk management, compliance, audit, legal and marketing approvals, giving him broad experience in both strategic oversight and operational governance.

Speaking following his appointment, Dr Jameson, who lives in Colwyn Bay, North Wales, said he was looking forward to supporting the farming sector in Wales.

He said: “I am delighted to join FUW Insurance Services and would like to thank Ann, Guto and the rest of the team for their warm welcome.

“I have been impressed by the passion and commitment of the board to the farming community, and by its ambition to grow and diversify the insurance business. I am keen to support the farming profession and help ensure the continued success of the sector in Wales, particularly during periods of economic and geopolitical uncertainty.

“I hope my experience in the insurance sector will help the business build on its successes and continue to grow, especially as it explores new commercial opportunities and innovative avenues for expansion.”

Ann Beynon OBE, chair of the FUW Insurance Services board, said Dr Jameson’s expertise would be a significant asset to the organisation.

She said: “We are delighted to welcome Dr Paul Jameson to the board. His depth of experience in insurance and his understanding of risk management will be invaluable as we continue to develop and diversify our services.

“Paul’s insight and strategic perspective will help us navigate a changing insurance market, identify new opportunities for innovation and growth, and strengthen the services we provide to our customers.”

Dr Jameson’s appointment follows the retirement of Ken Isherwood, who has stepped down from the board after more than a decade of service.

Paying tribute, Ann Beynon said: “Ken’s integrity, wisdom and deep knowledge of the insurance industry have underpinned much of our success.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside him, and we wish him every happiness in his well-earned retirement.”

Community

Badger Trust launches manifesto ahead of 2026 Senedd elections

Published

4 days ago

December 16, 2025

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

THE BADGER TRUST has published a new Cymru Badger Manifesto calling on candidates standing in the 2026 Senedd elections to commit to a science-led approach to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and to maintain Wales’ current policy of not culling badgers.

The manifesto, released on Wednesday (Dec 10) as part of the charity’s Badgers Belong Here / Mae Moch Daear yn Perthyn Yma campaign, sets out the organisation’s position on badger protection, wildlife crime and bTB control, and urges politicians to reject calls for the reintroduction of culling in Wales.

Badger Trust argues that political decisions taken during the next Senedd term will be critical to the future of badgers, which it describes as culturally and ecologically significant to Wales. The charity says badgers have been present in Wales for more than 250,000 years and remain part of Welsh folklore, place names and rural identity.

Five key commitments

The manifesto outlines five commitments the charity is asking Senedd candidates to support, including defending what it describes as science-led policy on bTB, challenging misinformation in public debate, strengthening enforcement against wildlife crime, recognising badgers as part of Welsh heritage, and supporting local volunteer badger groups.

According to Badger Trust, 140 incidents of badger-related wildlife crime have been recorded in Wales since 2020, which it says highlights the need for improved reporting and enforcement.

The charity also points to the work of six active badger groups across Wales, which it says assist with rescuing injured animals, monitoring setts, recording road casualties and supporting local authorities.

bTB policy in Wales and England

Wales has not carried out widespread badger culling as part of its bTB control strategy, instead focusing on cattle testing, biosecurity measures and herd management.

Badger Trust claims that new herd incidents of bTB in Wales fell by more than 40% between 2010 and 2024, which it attributes to cattle-based controls rather than wildlife intervention.

The charity contrasts this with England, where it says almost 250,000 badgers have been culled over the past decade as part of bTB control programmes. It argues that bTB rates in England remain higher than in Wales and that the evidence does not show culling alone to be responsible for reductions in disease.

Disputed claims over culling

The manifesto challenges the frequently cited claim that badger culling in England led to a 56% reduction in bTB in cattle. Badger Trust says this figure has been misinterpreted and that studies cited in support of culling also involved additional measures such as enhanced cattle testing and biosecurity.

The charity points to statements from researchers and official correspondence which, it says, indicate that reductions in bTB cannot be attributed solely to culling.

Supporters of culling, including some farming groups, continue to argue that wildlife control should remain an option as part of a wider disease management strategy, particularly in areas with persistent infection. The Welsh Government has previously said it keeps its bTB policy under review in line with emerging evidence.

Call to candidates

Nigel Palmer, CEO of Badger Trust, said Wales demonstrated that bTB could be tackled without killing wildlife.

He said: “Wales is a world-leading example of how to address bovine TB through evidence-based policy. The progress made here shows that culling is not necessary, and we urge Senedd candidates to stand by the science.”

The manifesto is available in both Welsh and English and will be circulated to political parties and candidates ahead of the 2026 election.