The Government has announced its intention to allow the culling of badgers in low-risk areas (LRAs) in “very exceptional circumstances” where veterinary epidemiologists judge an area to meet the published criteria for a bTB “hot spot”.
Minister of state for agriculture, fisheries and food, George Eustice, outlined the new measures in a written statement.
Rapid response
The document stated: “This will allow any such outbreaks to be tackled rapidly to prevent bTB from spreading further within the wildlife and cattle populations. It will also help preserve the LRAs’ low incidence status.
“In summer 2017, we consulted on a proposal to pay compensation at 50% of the average market price for any animal brought into a TB breakdown herd that then fails a TB test while that breakdown is still ongoing.
“This already happens in Wales and I have decided it should apply in England from 1 November 2018.”
‘Sensible and proportionate’
The statement continued: “The proposal is intended to encourage herd owners to take further steps to improve their disease controls in a sensible and proportionate manner.
“One way they can do this is to seek accreditation under a scheme based on the standards laid down by the Cattle Health Certification Standards body.
“Herds accredited at the time of the breakdown will continue to receive 100% compensation for all compulsorily slaughtered cattle.”
Effective from 2020
The Government also confirmed: “Surveillance testing for most herds in the high-risk area will take place at six-monthly intervals to improve early detection and eradication of disease, and prevent it spreading to new areas.
“We have decided this change should take effect from early 2020, when the next generation of TB testing contracts with veterinary delivery partners will be put in place.”
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