TB in cattle
 The Government is committed to tackling bovine tuberculosis (bTB), working in partnership with our stakeholders. This website gives more information on what measures the Government is taking to combat bTB and what further work is being carried out to better understand the disease. |
What is bovine TB?
Key information on bTB and how it is spread.
Bovine TB and badgers
Information relating to badgers and bTB in cattle, the history of badger controls, badger protection legislation, and TB husbandry best practice advice.
What testing and controls are in place?
Information relating to TB testing and controls, legislation, compensation and the November 2004 enhancements to TB controls.
Is there a risk to human health or other species?
Find out whether bTB can affect humans or other species.
What research is being done?
Information relating to TB research and development, the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) and Science Delivery Plan.
Latest news
1 October 2008 - Table valuations for compensation payable during October 2008 in England, for bovine TB, brucellosis, Enzootic Bovine Leukosis and BSE are now available.
25 September 2008 - Provisional TB statistics for Great Britain are now available for June 2008.
9 September 2008 - Guidance to Natural England (PDF 100KB) regarding the issue of licences to take or kill badgers for the prevention of bovine TB.
30 July 2008 - Defra has published the note of the meeting held between former members of the Independent Scientific Group on cattle TB and the former Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King to discuss badgers and bovine TB in cattle, held on Thursday 13 December 2007. Links to correspondence between ex-members of the ISG and EFRA Select Committee and a published paper by Jenkins et al entitled, 'The effects of annual widespread badger culls on cattle TB following the cessation of culling' are also available.
25 July 2008 - Defra has published the final reports of research projects into methods of culling: gassing, shooting, cage trapping and shooting, and snaring.
7 July 2008 - Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has today made a statement to Parliament about bovine TB and badgers, including that our policy will be not to issue licences to control bovine TB, increased investment in vaccines, and establishment of a bovine TB Partnership Group with industry.
A news release has been issued and a copy of the statement is available here.
If you suspect signs of any notifiable disease, you must immediately notify your local Divisional Veterinary Manager.
Page last modified: October 7, 2008