皇家华人

Reflecting on the upcoming mid-point of the government's bTB eradication strategy, while recognising noteworthy progress, the Godfray panel view the target of bTB eradication by 2038 as challenging but achievable, calling for:

• A positive change to address the critical nature of the issue and dedicated resources appropriately allocated.
• A focus on eradication rather than acceptance.
• Quantifiable performance markers based on infection levels.
• Additional investment in Defra/APHA and local authorities handling compliance, where under-resourcing may be undermining delivery.
• Shared governance between industry and government.

The panel suggested that the government consider appointing a senior individual to strengthen leadership and work closely with the bTB Partnership and stakeholders.

Government must step up

Responding to the review, NFU President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥淏ovine TB continues to have a huge impact on thousands of farming families across the country 鈥� emotionally, mentally and financially. Yet TB eradication policy has been floundering over the past two years and there is no clear strategy from the government as to how we will achieve the 2038 eradication target.

鈥淭he review is clear 鈥� there needs to be much greater urgency, attention and investment given to TB eradication. With the government ending wildlife control at the end of this parliament and the estimation that cattle vaccinations and effective testing won鈥檛 be available until at least 2030, there are gaping holes in the current policy which put the progress made so far at risk.鈥�

With the government having committed to cease wildlife control by the end of this parliament, Sir Godfray said it was "of great importance to develop effective non-lethal interventions to enable eradication, such as vaccination of badgers or reducing contact between badgers and cattle".聽

皇家华人supports continuous evaluation and monitoring of bTB control measures, considered on their individual scientific merit and efficacy. To achieve bTB eradication, all controls, including targeted culling, must be accessible if the epidemiological picture and trajectory of disease incidence warrant it, as seen in LRA (Low Risk Area) hotspots.聽

Tom added: 鈥溁始一�人has always said we need a comprehensive approach to TB eradication which utilises all the tools available. This should not be politicised, nor based upon the personal opinions of ministers, but determined by science and evidence and what has been proven to be effective.聽

鈥溁始一�人will continue to work with its members to drive high standards of biosecurity on farms. However, all the hard work which has seen us achieve the lowest rate of new herd infections in over 20 years in England will be for nothing if the government doesn鈥檛 step up and ensure we have the tools needed to continue to fight this devastating disease.鈥�

Vaccination and tests

In its report, the review panel stressed that surveillance and diagnostics are essential, adding for 鈥渇armers to manage out infections in their herds in ways that do not impose unmanageable business interruptions and financial burdens鈥�.聽

皇家华人believes that supplementary private bTB testing can play a role in the future strategy, considering the influential role that private vets have as trusted delivery partners assisting farmers in the management of bTB on farm. To be successful, private vets and farmers need increased access to data and tests, greater flexibility, and autonomy at herd level.聽

While the report was positive on the goal of an effective BCG/DIVA vaccination programme, a cautionary note is included on the estimated timeline and high DIVA test specificity required (to minimise false positive results) which cannot be guaranteed. It explores alternative and supplementary approaches to disease control and cattle vaccination deployment such as accelerating regulatory approvals, as seen in the Covid-19 pandemic, and the potential use of the BCG vaccine once licensed, without the associated DIVA skin test in persistent and recurrently infected herds.

Phase three of the UK Field Trials is anticipated to start on farm during autumn 2025, to further assess the performance and application of the DIVA test. Recent scientific studies are positive on the potential a new test may offer but at present many uncertainties remain.

The delivery of the LITP (Livestock Information Transformation Programme, formerly known as the Livestock Information Service) is deemed 鈥榚ssential for meeting the 2038 eradication target鈥�, with delays in delivery as highlighted by the National Audit Office Report Resilience to Animal Disease hindering progress.聽

Work at pace

That 鈥渂adgers can transmit disease to cattle and contribute to the persistence of disease鈥� has been established by the evidence review and the panel suggests that the focus of investigations should move to establishing the level of risk posed by wild badger populations.聽

皇家华人made a submission to the panel, focusing on the impact of a bTB breakdown, disease in wildlife, supplementary private testing, compensation, biosecurity, and farmers' confidence in British farming. 皇家华人further urged the panel to consider the considerable efforts by the industry and farming communities to deliver wildlife control emphasising recent peer-reviewed publications clearly demonstrating the positive impact industry culling has made to date.

皇家华人is calling for the government to work at pace to complete and deliver meaningful bTB policy outcomes from their strategy refresh. To effectively tackle this disease, the NFU maintains that access to all tools, not only those 鈥榤inisters decide are in scope鈥� must be available to combat transmission routes.

皇家华人will continue to publish more detail to this webpage in the coming weeks.