http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36976774
So it transpires that badgers don't transmit TB to cattle by touch, but by coming into contact with infected waste matter. Following extensive research it appears that badgers aren't snuggling up to cows and rubbing themselves on them to spread this vile disease. Contrary to what some people must have thought prior to the release of this!
Who'd have thought it? I suppose that they had previously ruled out sexual transmission, so advice to farmers to issue condoms to all male badgers and bulls was already rescinded.
Seriously though, if the spread of infection is in the fields, then what dairy farmers do to stop further infection needs looked at as it is believed that infected faeces can last for 6 months. So even if all the badgers are destroyed, that might not be the end of the problem.
So it transpires that badgers don't transmit TB to cattle by touch, but by coming into contact with infected waste matter. Following extensive research it appears that badgers aren't snuggling up to cows and rubbing themselves on them to spread this vile disease. Contrary to what some people must have thought prior to the release of this!
Who'd have thought it? I suppose that they had previously ruled out sexual transmission, so advice to farmers to issue condoms to all male badgers and bulls was already rescinded.
Seriously though, if the spread of infection is in the fields, then what dairy farmers do to stop further infection needs looked at as it is believed that infected faeces can last for 6 months. So even if all the badgers are destroyed, that might not be the end of the problem.