Are badgers to be blamed for bovine TB? Photo: Dan Shirley

An investigation into the causes of bovine tuberculosis in the UK has drawn mixed responses from farmers and wildlife conservation groups.

The National Farmers' Union called on the government to cull badgers, claiming that the study implicates the animals in the majority of cases of TB infection. However, the Badger Trust, which opposes any attempt to reduce the badger population, said the report highlighted a need for stricter controls on the movement of cattle.

The study, conducted at the University of Stirling, Scotland, and published by the Royal Society, found that movements of cattle were responsible for around 16% of herd infections, while 75% were caused by "local effects". These local effects are presumed to be the result of contact between cattle and badgers.

The NFU said the report left the government with no option but to "initiate action aimed at cutting off the flow of infection from badgers to cattle."

NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said: "We have always argued that in the TB hotspot areas, which account for the vast majority of total TB outbreaks, far and away the biggest cause of disease spread was infection coming from the badger population. This report confirms that, and also concludes that cattle movements are of relatively low importance in the overall picture."

The Badger Trust took a different view of the report. The charity said that the "local effects" it mentioned need not be limited to contact with badgers, but could also include local movements of cattle, which are not recorded.

"If recorded cattle movements cause 16% of known TB outbreaks, it must be the case that the millions of unrecorded cattle movements between scattered fields on the same holding are also causing outbreaks," said Trevor Lawson, a representative of the organization. "This research is further confirmation that local cattle movements spread bovine TB, just as national cattle movements do. The NFU previously denied that local cattle movements are a problem. This proves them wrong."

UK environment secretary Hilary Benn touched on the issue of bovine TB in a speech to the NFU's centenary conference, which took place on February 18th. He acknowledged that TB levels were too high, and promised action based on science. However, he also said that any decision would also have to be acceptable to the public, dampening hopes for a large-scale cull of badgers.

› Not a subscriber? Subscribe
› Sign up for free trial
› Blog: Down on the Pharm

• UK institute reveals TB diagnostic plans
• Scientists to advise on UK bovine TB research
• Stress and disease link found in cattle