More commonly found in cattle, Bovine TB has begun to infect pigs in Wales.  Research groups are blaming badger culling. 

In recent months Bovine TB has been identified in pigs kept on three different farms in Wales.  Many hold the misconception that only cattle are more susceptible than other mammals to the disease, however, more and more other mammals with Bovine TB are now emerging. 

The Welsh Assembly have issued investigators to establish if other pig herds have been infected.  Animal Health Officials state that pigs kept outdoors where TB is present in cattle and wildlife are naturally at a higher risk of infection.  Nevertheless, health officials do point out that pigs are far less likely to transit the infection to other animals. 

Regulation of TB just within pigs is difficult to regulate, as they can be skin tested, but these are not routinely completed, unlike that of cattle. These recent outbreaks have raised the need for more TB testing among pigs matching that used for cattle.   

Bovine TB has become a major animal health problem in Britain.  In 2009, one in every 10 herds tested were infected, which lead to the slaughter of 35,000 cattle.  Recent news reports highlight badger culling is to blame for the increasing the risk of TB found in cattle. A new Medical Research Council study has shown localised badger culling can more than double the risk of infecting TB in cattle.  Professor Christl Donnelly, from Imperial College London, who led the Medical Research Council, explained:

“These findings add to the evidence that localised reactive badger culling has a detrimental effect on tuberculosis risk for cattle.  This may explain why culls in the past were ineffective at reducing the incidence of Bovine TB.”

As a result of this research, the government are considering granting areas of western England to carry out proactive culling. Instead of a reactive approach, (waiting to cull badgers until an area becomes infected) farmers can eradicate badgers from their well known problem areas, covering approximately 150 square kilometres.   

The 'Farmers Guardian' stressed how this is no issue to be taken lightly, reminding the public there is a legal obligation to for vets as well as heard owners to report any even suspected cases of TB to the relevant local animal health office.