UK: Defra commits to using every tool in the toolbox to eradicate bovine TB

Speaking at the National Farmers Union Conference on Tuesday, February 21, Spencer recognized the need to move to the next phase of bovine TB (bTB) eradication and called for the whole industry to remain resilient as it continues to tackle the disease. “I know how devastating it can be to livestock, to cattle owners, whose business is affected by [bovine tuberculosis],” he said, adding that the industry must ‘use every tool in the toolbox to eradicate this disease’. Trials for a CattleBCG jab and new skin test have moved to the next phase, as announced by the animal and Plant Health Agency earlier this month. If this phase is successful, the industry will be another step closer to vaccinating cattle against the disease. The first phase of the trials began in 2021 and concluded in May 2022, with the analysis of the results from across 10 participating farms with 524 animals still in progress. According to Defra, the disease costs the taxpayer £100m/US$122m per year in England ...