Will Bovine & Human Tb Be Drastly Reduced In Uk Mainland With The Combination Of Appropriate Culling Of Cattle, Badgers, Plus Vaccination Of Cattle?

[willbewhatiwill]

It is widely accepted that badgers spread TB amongst livestock, so unless there is a vaccine against TB for livestock, badgers should be culled in a controlled humane manner. Badgers infected with TB like those of cattle can pass TB bacterium by air-borne transmission.

The distribution of Bovine TB is mainly around the South-West of England. By not culling, eventually bovine B will become even more prevalent, which will spread to Scotland & Eire.
Perhaps bovine & human TB could be drastically reduced in UK mainland with the combination of appropriate culling of cattle, badgers, plus vaccination of cattle.

Vaccination for badgers? Badgers (unlike domesticated cattle) are wild animal, catching them to see if they have TB antibodies (& vaccinating them) are impractical & costly, as well as distressing the badgers. Badgers (unlike domesticated cattle) are wild animal, catching them to see if they have TB antibodies (by reactive test will take several days) is impractical & costly, as well as distressing the badgers.

HMG do have a duty of care to control (if they are able to) feral bovine TB in badgers in UK’s countryside. Negligence can be sued (under Law of Tort), whereby compensation can be paid.

[Jackdaw33]

What does 'drastly' mean?

[willbewhatiwill]

Jackdaw33,

OOps, well 'drastically'.

[Islay]

//It is widely accepted that badgers spread TB amongst livestock//

No its not!

[Berniecuddles2]

A quote from the daily telegraph 2016..
Badgers keep away from cows and TB is not spread through contact, say scientists. Badgers keep their distance from cattle, and bovine TB is probably spread between the two species in the environment, a new study has shown.

[willbewhatiwill]

Berniecuddles2,

TB spread by air-borne transmission. In any case, it will be difficult trying keep badges from farm animals, when there are plenty of food in the farm and farm animals are usually restricted in pens.

[scooping]

Whatwill: For once I agree. It's a very good idea to keep badges away from farm animals. They have sharp points, unlike you.

[Mamyalynne]

W has gone to polish his badges for a while.

[Islay]

Cows get very angry when confronted with badges!!

[Baldric]

There's no substitute for a nice shiny Badger.

[Islay]

Baldric!!!!

[Old_Geezer]

Destroying wildlife because one can not or will not inoculate one's livestock is an appalling solution. In any case I'm unsure it's not the cattle spreading TB amongst badgers. I think the rules should change, inoculating cattle is a valid use of medicine in farming.