BCVA Statement Following The Publication Of Defras Bovine TB: Summary Of Badger Control Monitoring During 2015
8 years ago 
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The results from the third year of the pilot cull areas are very encouraging. The results from last year led the chief veterinary officer to the conclusion that the culls could be carried out safely, humanely and effectively. The BCVA, Sheep Veterinary Society and Pig Veterinary Society amongst others agreed with that position last year and are encouraged that this year’s results have provided further assurance that this is indeed correct.
The 25 year strategy to eradicate bovine tuberculosis will only work if all of the measures are applied as required across the country. We are working towards the objective of freedom from TB in the Low Risk Area by 2020 and the emphasis there will be on cattle based measures and biosecurity.
Across much of the West of the country there is a significant problem in the badger population. In these areas we will need to deploy all of the necessary cattle and biosecurity measures alongside a safe, humane badger cull. We urge the government to proceed with rolling out the wildlife controls in areas of the country where we continue to see the severe impact of Mycobacterium Bovis across a variety of affected species as well as cattle. The effects of disease progression in all affected species are a significant health and welfare consideration and it should be remembered that Mycobacterium Bovis remains a zoonotic risk for humans.
We firmly believe further role out should be coordinated to assure maximum potential benefit for a control measure that understandably divides opinion.
We alongside the NFU and BVA have called for the formation of a TB Eradication Board that would have an active role in how the variety of control measures can be most effectively deployed with the clear objective of coordinated disease reduction and ultimately TB eradication.
Neil Blake, President
Andrew Cobner, JVP
17.12.15
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