Bovine TB vaccine trial planned?
BADGERS in parts of Devon could be vaccinated in the battle to tackle the spread of TB in cattle herds.
Government officials are holding talks with farmers, vets and other experts in the county about the exact sites where the trial may take place.
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The plan forms part of Environment Secretary Hilary Benn's action plan to reduce the spread of bovine TB, after ruling out a cull of badgers.
The Westcountry has been one of the worst affected areas in the country, with thousands of cattle struck down with the disease, costing the industry dearly.
Farming leaders have repeatedly called for a targeted cull of badgers in the region, a move backed by Tory leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat counterpart Nick Clegg.
But Labour ministers have ruled out the plan, and instead pinned their hopes on a wide range of measures, including the badger vaccine.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs last night confirmed it had identified six catchment areas of 300 sq km, including an area to the east and west of Tiverton in Devon.
Each area selected for the pilot will be much smaller, around 100 sq km.
A Defra spokesman stressed no final decision on areas had been made, and the department is "currently meeting with regional representatives of industry bodies, as well as vets in the selected areas to talk about the project and answer their questions".
Detailed talks will be held with farmers in the autumn. The trial is due to last five years and is expected to start next May.
Last month former farming minister Jane Kennedy told the WMN the Government had been wrong to rule out a badger cull.
She said ministers should "keep the door open" to a cull in areas like the Westcountry where the disease is rife.
Ms Kennedy quit the Government a month ago over Gordon Brown's style of leadership.
4 Comments
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Wednesday, July 08 2009, 8:15AM
“:| Please do not call me an idiot Yevad. . I am not one. . When you fully understand the complexities of producing and applying an effective vaccine for tuberculosis in ANY animal, put 'pen to paper' by all means. . But until then I suggest you gets some literature on the subject and study it. . "Mycobacterium bovis infection in Animals and Humans" by Charles O.Thoen, James H.Steel and Michael J..Gilsdorf will be a good place to start. . The book; the second edition, written by tuberculosis specialists from around the world, remains the most comprehensive collection of timely information regarding Mycobacterium bovis in any single source. It will cost you about £80.”
by yevad, devon
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 8:04PM
“don't be an idiot Charles. Vaccines are what wipe out disease.
For thousands of years we've had badgers and it's never been a problem. Introduce man-made intensive farming and suddenly it is. Farmers have been subsidised by the EU for decades, created enormous mountains of wasted food, now they've royally screwed it up by trying to pack too many animals into too small a space they want government to bail them out. Well, it's my tax dollars and as far as I'm concerned they can do what every other business in the world does, make it work by themselves. And if they can't do that, they can go bust, just like every other business in the world does.”
by Charles Henry 1945-(diuturnity), Somersetshire
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:35AM
“:| Quote:- "A wide range of measures, including the badger vaccine.". . Veterinary scientists everywhere know that the idea of vaccinating badgers is impracticable and just futile gesture politics, but not only that it is actually criminal neglect of the other animals affected, as the bacterium gets more firmly established in more and more species. . Any accusations made against farmers for possible failures in their husbandry are completely exploded as the bacterium gathers pace among camelids now, but particularly alpaca.”
by Jim Smith, UK
Tuesday, July 07 2009, 10:15AM
“More money down the drain.....presumably they intend to vaccinate the wild deer which also carry TB???
probably not, little bit too logical for Hilary”