Bovine TB - Roger Evans in Veterinary Times

Re: Bovine TB - Roger Evans in Veterinary Times

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:28:36 GMT

[quote user="plantagenet"]We need a cull and we needed it 20 years ago,[/quote]

Agreed!

Re: Bovine TB - Roger Evans in Veterinary Times

plantagenet — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:38:17 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"] badger vaccines. [/quote]

Are not going to work.

The research is dubious - it does not prevent disease, and a hell of a lot of human experience of TB vaccination implies that it not going to be much more than a waste of money in badgers.

We need a cull and we needed it 20 years ago, the wildlife trusts, badgers groups, government and RSPCA should hang their heads in shame at allowing such suffering in animals (don't kid me and emaciated, TB ridden badger isn't suffering) not to mention the blight upon our cattle and dairy industries.

No one is advocating badger eradication just number control. TB is a largely disease of overcrowding. Fewer badgers will mean more ground nesting birds, more bumble bees and more hedgehogs, so perhaps the farmers won't have to shoulder all the blame for their numbers dropping.

Re: Bovine TB - Roger Evans in Veterinary Times

Neil Wheadon — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 23:42:55 GMT

I've just found this link, not much detail but provides an overview

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animal-diseases/a-z/bovine-tb/research/

Re: Bovine TB - Roger Evans in Veterinary Times

Neil Wheadon — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 23:39:59 GMT

[quote user="james herriot lied"]We have a local badger rescue group (no, these are the sensible kind) who are pushing to be allowed to go in and vaccinate the badgers. I'm keen to get them involved - at this point, I'd try anything. Anybody seen any results with this yet?[/quote]

It's better than doing nothing, but there are issues in catching all of them and vaccinating the young after they are born every year. 74% reduction is the figure quoted but these are the ones caught. Aiming for an oral vaccine is the key to this this but there are issues, notably survival of the vaccine and ingestion by cattle (wildlife will spread the vaccinated bait) which will invalidate any TB test. Cattle vaccination was 10 years away when I started in 1990 and 10 years away when I left in 2011. It's not for want of trying, there are a lot of people looking at TB in this country.

Re: Bovine TB - Roger Evans in Veterinary Times

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 21:23:14 GMT

Mariette was doing some badger vaccines. Maybe PM her?

Re: Bovine TB - Roger Evans in Veterinary Times

james herriot lied — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 18:45:36 GMT

Well said.

I'm back on TB again tomorrow, and apart from a small test a couple of weeks ago, it seems months since somebody actually went clear. The stoicism of farmers - and their grace in being willing to help, whilst I'm putting the dreaded DNA tags in - just floors me. I've needed a quiet corner to shed tears in more than once this year.

We have a local badger rescue group (no, these are the sensible kind) who are pushing to be allowed to go in and vaccinate the badgers. I'm keen to get them involved - at this point, I'd try anything. Anybody seen any results with this yet?