Simulating the next steps in badger control for bovine tuberculosis in England

Industry-led culling of badgers has occurred in England to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle for a number of years. Badger vaccination is also possible, and a move away from culling was “highly desirable” in a recent report to the UK government. Here we used an established simulation model to examine badger control option in a post-cull environment in England. These options included no control, various intermittent culling, badger vaccination and use of a vaccine combined with fertility control. The initial simulated cull led to a dramatic reduction in the number of infected badgers present, which increased slowly if there was no further badger management. All three approaches led to a further reduction in the number of infected badgers, with little to choose between the strategies. We do note that of the management strategies only vaccination on its own leads to a recovery of the badger population, but also an increase in the number of badgers that need to be vaccinated. We conclude that vaccination post-cull, appears to be particularly effective, compared to vaccination when the host population is at carrying capacity.

European badgers and the control of bovine tuberculosis in the United Kingdom

The European badger has become infamous because of its incompletely understood role in the spread of bovive tuberculosis to cattle, despite in actuality being directly implicated in only 5.7% of herd breakdowns. Randomised Badger culling trial data suggest that badger culling could make only a limited contribution to TB eradication in Britain. Surviving badgers in both proactive and reactive culling areas immigrate into the surrounding area, which generally worsens the rate of cattle herd breakdowns by around 25% in these areas. While badger vaccination appears promising as a potential TB control tool, there is not yet sufficient evidence to judge its effectiveness. Free shooting of badgers has proven less effective than hoped, failing to reach cull targets. Furthermore, instances of badger suffering have been reported. Consequently, controlling TB through badger management remains technically, ethically and politically challenging and alternative approaches directed at cattle are likely to be more effective.