Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is the biggest challenge facing the UK livestock industry today, leading to the slaughter of 32,000 cattle during 2010.

Since the links between badgers, cattle and bTB were established by Sir John Krebs in 1997, the farming industry has been seeking a long term solution to the problem.

Following a government consultation which closed in December 2010, ministers have now agreed a package of measures to tackle TB which will include a carefully managed and science-led policy of badger controls. Following a stakeholder consultation the government have given the go ahead to two pilot culls to test the effectiveness, humanness and safety of controlled shooting.

For those people that are seeking a better understanding of a difficult and complex issue, and want to make up their minds after reading the facts, this website offers clear information about the links between badgers, cattle and TB and supports that information with links to recognised scientific research.

To find out more about what can be done to achieve a ‘TB Free England’ use the top navigation of the site.

NEW - Case Studies

We now have four case studies of farmers from the following areas: Somerset, Gloucestershire and Cornwall - read their stories here.