How is tb transmitted from badgers to cattle

This will reduce the risk of creating wildlife reservoirs of TB in your area with the potential for spreading disease back to your herd or to other herds in the area. If dead badgers are found on the farm, contact your local authority for advice on disposal. Fence cattle away from badger setts and latrines but don't obstruct badgers from accessing their setts. When silaging, avoid mowing these areas as they may contain infectious material.

The site of badger latrines may change over time and fencing may need to be moved. If possible, prevent cattle from grazing fields with a high level of badger activity. As badger latrines are frequently located along linear landscape features such as field edges, the best option may be to prevent cattle grazing at fields boundaries altogether e. Advice during a TB breakdown. England Northern Ireland Scotland Wales.

Badgers Wild deer. Why do this? How to reduce your risk. Find out if badgers visit your farm Familiarise yourself with signs of badger activity. Introduce barriers to restrict badger access to cattle Open feed sources are an easy meal. Toggle section links. Search: Search. Menu News home news Clues of TB spread between cows and badgers.

Home News news Clues of TB spread between cows and badgers. Contact us. Transmission Bovine TB is an infectious respiratory disease of cattle that is mainly spread through inhaling infectious particles in the air. Genetic study The researchers analysed the entire genetic make-up of the bacteria from badgers and cattle, a process known as whole genome sequencing. Targeted control Current approaches to controlling bovine tuberculosis only discriminate at a very coarse, regional level between areas where badgers are more likely to be involved in infecting cattle from areas where they are not.

Evidence of bovine TB is most commonly found in the lymph glands of the throat and lungs of affected animals. Infection is mainly through inhalation or ingestion of the bacteria.

Contaminated food and water can also be a source of infection. Bovine TB is transmitted between cattle, between badgers, and between the two species. Badgers can spread this disease to other badgers directly via close contact including intimate contact between mother and cub.

Cattle grazing areas where infected badgers have been present are exposed to a risk of infection. Exposure may also happen in farm buildings.