Next phase for cow vaccine trial fuels hopes of an end to the badger cull
The end of the badger cull moved a step closer today as officials announced the next step in a bovine TV jab for cows.
Some 174,517 badgers have been killed since 2013 under efforts to curb the spread of tuberculosis in cattle.
Cull supporters blame the animals for fuelling the spread of TB across the countryside, with more than 38,000 cattle slaughtered in England and Wales in 2021 to tackle the disease, which costs taxpayers about £100million a year.
Campaigners have pinned their hopes on a vaccine which could protect cattle - and pave the way for the end of the badger killing programme.
The Mirror told in November how up to 67,801 badgers could be killed over the autumn and winter across 21 counties: Gloucestershire, Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Herefordshire, Cheshire, Wiltshire, Staffordhshire, Cumbria, Avon, Shropshire, Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Lincolnshire, Hampshire, Berkshire and Worcestershire.
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Tens of thousands of badgers have been slaughtered (Getty Images)But in the latest stage of developing a vaccine, the Animal and Plant Health Agency said field trials for a cattle inoculation and new skin test for bTB have moved to the next phase.
The Government said: “If the second phase is successful, we will be closer to being able to vaccinate cattle against this endemic disease.”
Badger Trust chief executive Peter Hambly said it “welcomes the news that improved cattle skin tests and cattle vaccines are near deployment”.
He added: “The answer to dealing with bTB lies in measures focused on cattle - improved biosecurity measures, including reduced cattle movements and, of course, introducing improved testing and cattle vaccines.
“In contrast, it is likely that by the end of 2022, over 200,000 badgers will have been slaughtered in the ongoing English badger cull, with little evidence that this impacts bTB in cattle.
Badger Trust chief executive Peter Hambly (Badger Trust)“This wildlife tragedy has to end with many setts now empty across England when the answer to dealing with bTB has always been with cattle, not badgers.”
Pilot schemes for the next tests and vaccine are taking place on farms across the country and are due to finish this year(2023).
Phase 2 will involve at least five farms and 600 animals participating, 300 of which will be vaccinated with the rest getting a placebo.
APHA’s lead scientist for TB Dr Phil Hogarth said: “I am pleased that we have progressed to the next phase of the field trials for a cattle vaccine and DIVA (Detect Infected among Vaccinated Animals) skin test for bovine tuberculosis.
“This next step represents a significant milestone, building upon many years of research, and APHA will continue to be led by science, and work tirelessly in the fight to eradicate this disease.”
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Wildlife campaigner Dominic Dyer, policy adviser at the Born Free Foundation, said it “welcomes the next stage of field trials for a bovine cattle vaccine and skin test, but has little confidence that this Government has any serious commitment to bring a final end to badger culling”.
Born Free Foundation policy adviser Dominic Dyer (ITV)He added: “Bovine TB is primarily a cattle-based disease and the only long-term solution to lowering its spread is by improved TB testing, implementing tighter biosecurity and cattle movement controls and rolling out an effective TB vaccine for cattle.”
England, Scotland and Wales’s chief vets said in a statement: “Bovine TB represents one of the most difficult animal disease challenges the world faces today.
“We are making substantial progress in developing an additional tool to help eradicate this disease with the new cattle vaccine and DIVA skin test - and are very grateful to the vets and farmers taking part for their efforts in making this work on the ground.
“If this next phase is successful, this project takes us one step closer to a vaccine to be used in conjunction with other measures to tackle this insidious disease which impacts livestock farmers across the globe.”
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