Defra launches badger vaccination scheme
Under the scheme, the Government will offer funding, expert advice, equipment loans and a free vaccine supply.
A badger vaccination scheme launched by Defra yesterday (September 2) has received the support of the BVA.
Under the new badger edge vaccination scheme (BEVS), the Government will support vaccination schemes being carried out on the edge of the bovine TB high risk area.
The aim is to create a "buffer zone" of healthy badgers to reduce the spread of TB from high risk areas, particularly the South West and West Midlands.
Covered by the "edge area" are counties in the middle of the country such as Hampshire, Oxfordshire and Cheshire.
The scheme forms part of the Government's overall strategy to achieve bovine TB free status in England by 2038.
Farming minister George Eustice explained: "Bovine TB continues to be a huge threat to our beef and dairy farmers, our economy and our food security, which is why we are pursuing a comprehensive strategy to beat it…
"This could be an important part of our collective efforts, to prevent the spread of this terrible disease in cattle to new areas of the country."
BVA president Robin Hargreaves has welcomed the news: "We have long argued there is no one single measure that will tackle bovine TB, and it is therefore important that a vaccination strategy is not deployed in isolation but delivered in conjunction with other key elements of the strategy.
"We fully support the comprehensive eradication strategy for England that utilises all of the available measures, including targeted badger vaccination in the edge area, targeted and humane culling in the high risk area, strict cattle controls, and improved biosecurity."
Mr Hargreaves believes area-based methods are important in controlling and eradicating bTB in the UK. Quoting recent post-mortem evidence from badgers killed on Cheshire roads, he said the provisional infection rate is 24 per cent.
"[This] may indicate that the edge is advancing and thus illustrates the urgency of dealing with bovine TB in both high risk and edge areas," he said.
The Government's support for badger vaccination has also been welcomed by the Humane Society, however it's executive director Mark Jones warned the scheme will be ineffective unless it is extended into high risk areas.
As part of the scheme, the Government will offer up to 50 per cent funding for the long term cost of vaccinations, expert advice, free vaccine supply and loans of equipment such as traps.
In order to be eligible, vaccination projects must be mainly in the edge area and must cover at least 15km squared.
The UK's chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens is urging groups to take advantage of the scheme.
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
