HC Deb 22 May 1997 vol 294 cc167-9W
Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been received from animal welfare organisations over the last three years on the transmission of TB by badgers. [1059]

Mr. Rooker

The Department has received representations from the following organisations:

  • Castle Combe Badger Research Centre
  • The Coalition for Badgers
  • Dartmoor Badgers Protection League
  • Dorset Badger Group
  • Gloucestershire Badger Group
  • The Mammal Society
  • National Federation of Badger Groups
  • New Forest Badger Group
  • North East Essex Badger Group
  • North Northants Badgers
  • Nottinghamshire Badger Group
  • Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
  • Royal Society for Nature Conservation (the Wildlife Trusts)
  • Somerset Trust Badger Group
  • Shropshire Badger Group
  • Surrey Badger Protection Society
  • Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
  • Wiltshire Badger Group
  • Worcestershire Badger Society
  • Yeovil and District Badger Group

A joint proposal for action by MAFF was made in December 1995 by the RSPCA, The Mammal Society, The Wildlife Trusts and the National Federation of Badger Groups. This stated that:

  1. 1. The "interim strategy" was no resulting in a decrease in the incidence of TB—his should be recognised.
  2. 2. There should be a halt to the culling of badgers—the effect should be monitored.
  3. 3. There should be improved compensation for farmers and a focusing of resources on alternative approaches to controlling the disease.
  4. 4. Research into the transmission of the disease should be undertaken and recommendations on farming practice should be promoted.
  5. 5. Research into a vaccine should be continued to provide a long-term solution.
  6. Groups (listed above) affiliated to these organisations have written supporting this proposal.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has evaluated of TB being transmitted from badgers to cattle. [1058]

Mr. Rooker

References for the evidence that has been evaluated are as follows.Evidence considered Benham, P. (1985). The inter-relationships between cattle and badger behaviour and farm husbandry practices and their relevance to the transmission of Mycobacterium bovis MAFF. Cheeseman C. L. & Mallinson, P.J. (1979). Handbook on Biotelemetry and Radio-tracking. Edited by C. J. Amlaner and D. W. Macdonald. Pergammon Press, Oxford. Cheeseman, C. L., Wilesmith, J. W. & Stuart, F. A. (1989). Tuberculosis, the disease and its epidemiology in the badger, a review. Epidemiology and Infection 103, p.113–125. Clifton-Hadley, R. S., Wilesmith, J. W & Stuart, F. A. (1993). Mycobacterium bovis in the European badger (Meles meles): Epidemiological findings in tuberculour badgers from a naturally infected population. Epidemiology and Infection 111, p. 9–19. Clifton-Hadley, R. S., Wilesmith, J. W., Richards, M.S., Upton, P. & Johnston. S. (1995). The occurrence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in and around an area subject to extensive badger (Meles meles) control, Epidemiology and Infection 114, p. 179–193. Dunnet, G.M., Jones, D.M. & McInerney, J.P. (1986). Badgers and Bovine tuberculosis—Review of Policy. HMSO, London. Francis, J. (1947). "Bovine tuberculosis",. Staples Press, London 220 pp. Gallagher, J. & Nelson, J. (1979). Causes of ill health and natural death in badgers in Gloucestershire Veterinary Record 105, p.546–551. Griffin, J.M. (1993). The role of bought-in cattle in herd breakdowns due to tuberculosis in part of county Cavan during 1989. Irish Veterinary Journal 46, p.143–148. Griffin, J.M. & Dolan, L.A. (1995). The role of cattle-to-cattle transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in the epidemiology of tuberculosis in cattle in the Republic of Ireland—A Review. Irish Veterinary Journal 48(6), p.228–234. Hancox, M. (1995). The great badgers and bovine TB debate. Biologist 42, p.159–161. Jubb, K.V.F., Kennedy, P.0 & Palmer, N. (1985). Pathology of Domestic Animals. 3rd ed. New York and London: Academic Press. 2: p. 493–504. Little, T.W.A., Naylor, P.F. & Wilesmith, J.W. (1982a). Laboratory studies of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers and calves. Veterinary Record III, p. 550–557. Little, T.W.A., Swan, C., Thompson, H.V. & Wilesmith, J.W. (1982b). Bovine Tuberculosis in domestic and wild mammals in an area of Dorset. Parts I, II & III. Maddock, E.C.G. (1933). Studies on the survival time of the bovine tubercle bacilli in soil, soil and dung, in dung and on grass. Journal of Hygiene Cambridge 33: p. 103–117. Maddock, E.C.G. (1936) Experiments on the infectivity for healthy calves of bovine tubercle bacilli discharged in dung upon pasture. Journal of Hygiene 36: p. 594–601. McFadyean, J. & Knowles, R. (1915). The diagnosis of tuberculosis in cattle by inoculation of guinea pigs with antiformined faeces. Journal of Comparative Pathology 28: P. 107–146. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (September 1984). A Review of Bovine Tuberculosis in Great Britain. Monaghan, M.L., Doherty, M.L., Collins, J.D., Kazda, J.F. & Quinn, P.J. (1994). The tuberculin test. Veterinary Microbiology 40, p. 111–124. Muirhead, R.H., Gallagher, J. & Burn, K.J. (1974). Tuberculosis in wild badgers in Gloucestershire: Epidemiology. Veterinary Record 95, p.552–555 Neal, E. & Cheeseman, C.L. (1996) "Badgers" published by T. & A.D. Poyser Ltd. (ISBN 0–85661–082–8). Neil, S.D., Hanna, J., O'brien, J.J. et al. (1988). Excretion of Mycobacterium bovis by experimentally infected cattle. Veterinary Record 123(13): p. 340–343 Neill, S.D., Hanna, J., Mackie, D.P. et al (1992) Isolation of Mycobacterium bovis form the respiratory tracts of skin test—negative cattle. Veterinary Record 131, p.45–47. Neill, S.D., Cassidy, J., Hanna, J. et al. (1994). Detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in skin test-negative cattle with an assay for bovine interferon-gamma. Veterinary Record 135, p. 134–135. Stamp, J.T. (1944). A reviw of the pathogenesis and pathology of bovine tuberculosis with special reference to practical problems. Veterinary Record, 56, p.443–446. Stamp, J.T & Wilson, A. (1946). Veterinary Record. 58, p.11–15. Stenhouse-Williamson, R & Hoy, W.A. (1930). The viability of B. tuberculosis (Bovinus) on pasture land, in stored faeces and in liquid manure. Journal of Hygiene (Cambridge) 30: p.413–419. Wilesmith, J. W. & Williams, D.R. (1986) Tuberculosis lesions in reactor cows Veterinary Record 119 (2), p.51.

Zuckerman, Lord. (1980) Badgers, Cattle and Tuberculosis. HMSO, London.

My officials have also visited the Republic of Ireland to consider a study conducted in East Offaly.

A further independent scientific review is currently under way, under the chairmanship of Professor John Krebs.

Mr. Campbell-Savours

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been received from veterinary organisations over the last three years on the transmission of TB by badgers. [1060]

Mr. Rooker

The Department has received representations from the following veterinary organisations:

  • British Veterinary Association
  • Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Both organisations have expressed support for the policy of restricted culling introduced following the Dunnet Report, but they see the need for more vigorous control of those badgers which have been implicated in cattle TB breakdowns.

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