We herewith offer our assistance to the Select Committee, in their Inquiry into the UK Government research and its subsequent response to the link between Bovine TB and badgers, culminating in the 1998-99 Krebs experiments.

  We are all working farmers in the South West region of the UK, with at least 25 years of experience of MAFF policy on Bovine TB behind us. We are also consumers, mothers and grandmothers, and have due regard for our own, and our family's health with regard to Tuberculosis.

  Please find enclosed a short written submission, together with appropriate reference material which we would like the Select Committee to consider.

  We thank you for this opportunity to submit "grass roots" information and references which we hope you will find useful.

  We understand from Professor Bourne and his team that the Krebs culling experiments are designed to "PROVE A CONTROL AREA—ONCE AND FOR ALL".

  To whom, they do not say; Why, they do not explain, and of previous trials and research funded by UK taxpayers and abroad, they appear dismissive.

  Below we briefly outline where MAFF has spent UK taxpayers' money to date, and how it has reacted to its own and other research findings.

RESEARCH

  1966-1995 THORNBURY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. (boundary; Severn estuary, M.4/M.5 with control, a comparable area adjacent). Conclusion: "The analyses presented indicate that the eradication of tuberculosis badger populations from a defined area where TB is known to occur in cattle, resolves the Bovine TB problem for at least TEN years, if the action taken is thorough, and steps are taken to prevent recolonisation for several years". Ref: R. S. Clifton-Hadley, et al. 1995.

  After a short period, recolonisation was allowed at Thornbury, badger numbers recovered to previous levels, and after twelve years (to 1995), no culture positive cattle reactors had been found.

  Other comparable trials were carried out in the UK on a similar timescale, at STEEPLELEES (DORSET) and HARTLAND (DEVON) VETERINARY INFORMATION INDICATES THAT ALL CAME TO THE SAME CONCLUSION AS THORNBURY . . .

  DECEMBER 1993—MAFF SEMINAR: BADGERS AND BOVINE TB. The minutes state: "The scientific consensus is that badgers can transmit TB to cattle. Two independent enquiries led by distinguished scientists have been carried out for Ministers. Lord Zuckerman reporting in 1980 said that he was satisfied that badgers could contract TB and spread it amongst themselves and to cattle. Professor Dunnet in 1986, quoted trials in Gloucestershire and Dorset, and supported the case that "a comprehensive clearance of tubercular badgers, was followed by the disappearance of cattle TB for many years."

  This seminar was used to launch a five year trial in the South West, 1993-98 using "triplet zones" to compare culling strategies. A "live test" trial for badgers was to be evaluated, although the Seminar reported the current test to be only 41 per cent accurate when applied to a single badger. However, this figure was vastly improved when taken as a correlation of all individuals in the sett. The writers have been unable to locate any data as the trials do not appear to have been completed.

  EAST OFFALY BADGER RESEARCH PROJECT (EOP) 1989-95. Ref: O'Conner & O'Malley.

  Involved a 200 sq. mile cull area, with the surrounding area as control. A variable width "buffer" between. Conclusion: "THE TRIAL WAS CONSIDERED SUCCESSFUL".

  The control of a badger population in which there was evidence of M. Bovis, was accompanied by a (90 per cent) reduction of TB in the cattle population.

  However, incidence of bovine TB also dropped by a smaller amount in the control area, (38 per cent) as badgers migrated through the buffer zone and into the cull area.

The five year trial reported: "A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN HERD BREAKDOWN IN THE PROJECT (CULL) AREA, AND SIGNIFICANTLY FEWER ANIMALS AFFECTED IF BREAKDOWN DID OCCUR.

  While keeping the whole country on an annual cattle testing and re-active strategy for TB control, rigourously enforced, and involving social badger group boundaries (Ref: J. M. Griffin 3.1.5), Ireland is replicating the Offaly trials. By using a wider buffer zone of at least 3 km, or a river, they hope to prove an effective "Control"—the critical part of any trial . . .

  CURRENT TRIALS IN DONEGAL, MONEGHAN, KILKENNY AND N CORK. Trials began in September 1997 and are ongoing. Interim results published January 1999 . . .

  WOODCHESTER PARK, GLOUCESTERSHIRE has been the source of most UK badger research, with an observation programme that has run for twenty years . . .  Ref: C. Cheeseman, et al.

MAFF RESPONSE TO RESEARCH

  1930: 40 per cent of herds with reactors: UK testing programme. 1960: reduced to two per cent (THE CURRENT EPIZOOTIC EXPORT LEVEL) 1980: Zuckerman—"Clean ring" strategy, noted in 1986 review that: "SINCE ALL CONTROL MEASURES WERE SUSPENDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REVIEW, THE DISEASE HAS SPREAD." Targeted outbreak foci/cleared seven sq km area around. 1982: gassing of the sett replaced by trapping, which accounted for 80 per cent of the target group. (Gassing=100 per cent). 1986-97: "Interim" strategy; Professor Dunnet.

  Reduced the cull area from seven sq. km. to one sq. km. and limited trapping to land (field) where infection had been confirmed in cattle. NOT the badger social area, but arbitrary, bureaucratic boundaries depending on grazing, parish or county boundaries. This proved ineffective for cattle and stressful for badgers. No action on sett. TB Veterinary Officers report that since gassing ceased, more REINFECTION has been seen in cattle, with some herds under restriction for over TEN YEARS.

  Did hydrogen cyanide kill M.Bovis bacteria? or did badger carcasses in the sett prevent recolonisation? Latest research suggests that although dry conditions with ultra-violet light destroy M.Bovis, the bacterium can survive on damp grass for up to eleven months to infect grazing cattle, and underground, for up to TWO YEARS (sett), to reinfect healthy badgers. Reference: R.M.Q. Sainsbury MRCVS/Cheeseman/Brown.

  January 1997: All control of badgers in new outbreaks of bovine TB ceased, pending Krebs report. January 1999: INCREASE IN NEW OUTBREAKS CATTLE TB IN SW ENGLAND IN EXCESS OF 50 PER CENT. CORNWALL'S CASES HAVE DOUBLED. BIG INCREASE IN INFECTIOUS LESIONED BADGERS NOTED AT POSTMORTEM. (Ref. V.I. Centre Truro.)

LIKELY EFFECTIVENESS OF KREBS TRIALS

  CONTROL AREA: Scientifically this area is flawed. MAFF have no control over the movements of badgers, cattle or fresh feedstuffs, and co-operation is voluntary.

(a)  The buffer is based on the Woodchester Park sett data, which shows a social boundary for one particular sett of only one km. MAFF's own research from the same area has tracked badgers up to 30 km. Cornwall badger man noted one lactating female trapped, marked and released, was then trapped again some five km away. In the breeding season, badgers will travel outside their social group to mate.

(b)  Krebs' one km buffers OVERLAP between the three areas in the North Devon trial.

(c)  When the project cull zone is cleared, with such a narrow buffer, previous research (Offaly) has shown that inward migration of badgers into the Project area will compromise the control.

(d)  MAFF have exercised no restriction on cattle movements between the control zone and other parts of the project. Farmers within the "control" area are known to have cattle-grazing in the designated "cull" zone. The cattle will be tested in a control area as their main holding.

(e)  There is no restriction of non-conserved cattle feedstuffs from other areas into the "control" area. ie Zero grazed grass, fresh maize or cereals . . .

(f)  Farmers in the "control" area may find that the Krebs experiment "flags" their farms (reduces value) if they want to sell, and attempt "self help" in disease control.

(g)  Land owner co-operation is voluntary. Many farmers value a HEALTHY badger population on their land, and may refuse to allow Ministry intervention, which could allow infected individuals to recolonise the vacant sett.

PRO ACTIVE AREA

(a)  Newspapers report that badger activists have already compromised the trial by removing caged animals.

(b)  The buffer zones are not wide enough to accommodate badger social groups, and thus reduce stress and possible shedding of M Bovis (referred to by NFBG) by the remaining fragmented groups based in other triplets. Ref: Thornbury/Cheeseman work badger mobility.

OTHER CONCERNS

  We would respectfully remind the Committee that TB measures are not undertaken to protect either badgers or cattle, THEY ARE UNDERTAKEN AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN, AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.

  Much of the research data relied on to protect badgers is seriously out of date and legislation has been formulated to deal with badger baiting, rather than disease control.

  We have already referred to later research which indicates the two year survival of M Bovis in the humid conditions of a badger sett, and this observation correlates with the Gloucestershire work undertaken by MAFF which stipulates that clearance of infected badgers must be maintained until such time as infection is cleared. A healthy population of both badgers and cattle can then co-exist, with ecology in balance.

  We have also referred to Professor Zuckerman's observations that in the absence of any control of infected badgers in 1980, TB in cattle increased.

  In the year January 1998-99, in the absence of any badger control, the South West of England has seen an increase in herd restrictions in excess of 50 per cent. Banks have been warned by MAFF to expect a flood of new herd restrictions, and associated farm debt.

  WHERE WILL HERD RESTRICTIONS, FARM DEBT, AND UK TB LEVELS BE AFTER A SEVEN YEAR STANDSTILL FOR KREBS' EXPERIMENT?

  Cattle numbers have declined from a high of 9.3 million in 1974 to 6.3 million in 1998 (MAFF Census/England) Badger numbers have increased by 77 per cent, in the years 1986-97. Their habitat has been severely reduced by house building, motorways and dualling of trunk roads. Research by MAFF and Professor S Harris (Bristol University Veterinary School) has shown that a social group in excess of eight to 10 individuals is under stress and in danger of shedding M Bovis. In 1986 MAFF removed 88 badgers from one sett in North Cornwall. After no action to maintain a clean sett, the area is currently under restriction again—at the taxpayers' expense.

  NFBG (National Federation of Badger Groups) literature, produced by Eunice Overend BSc agrees that stress if a social group is artificially fragmented, can cause M Bovis to be shed. Trapping by MAFF, AWAY FROM THE SETT accounted for only 80 per cent of individuals and took NO ACCOUNT OF SOCIAL GROUP BOUNDARIES . . . thus fragmenting groups.

  NFBG literature attributes cattle lesions only to nasal passages and thus dismisses public health fears. Ms Overend states that "No TB in cattle has been found in the stomach". THIS STATEMENT IS INCORRECT. A veterinary practise in Sidmouth has reported, for the first time in 20 years, seeing (autumn 1998) OPEN LESIONS IN A COW'S STOMACH, indicating infection by ingestion of contaminated feedstuffs . . .

  MAFF have a duty of care to public health, and as the dramatic increase in badger numbers (+77 per cent 1986-97) forces badger habitats closer to human beings and domestic cats and dogs, then CATTLE TB TESTING SHOULD BE SEEN AS A WAY OF FOREWARNING OF A GENERAL TB HEALTH PROBLEM WHICH WILL INVEVITABLY SPREAD EITHER DIRECTLY, OR INDIRECTLY THROUGH DOMESTIC PETS, TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

  INSURANCE. We would advise the committee that for a TB insurance risk to be accepted by a company, the farm concerned must have had a clear TB test, and not be in a parish where TB is confirmed. We know of only two companies offering limited consequential loss cover on that basis, eliminating most of the SW from TB insurance.

  RSPB REPORT A DRAMATIC DECLINE IN GROUND NESTING BIRDS. The writers have observed on their own farms, a decrease in such as skylarks, partridge etc. Farming practices are unchanged. Badger numbers, as judged by setts, trails and field damage, have increased.

  MAFF ADVICE, with regard to separating cattle from badgers, at grass and in particular in farm buildings, we find totally impractical. If buildings are "closed off", cattle succomb to virus pneumonia, due to restriction of airflow, and electric fences etc restrict tractor and farmer husbandry access . . . Please note: "UP TO 300,000 UNITS OF TB BACTERIUM CAN BE SHED IN ONE MILLILITRE OF URINE, FROM A BADGER WITH EXTENSIVE KIDNEY LESIONS, with 28 per cent of urinations occurring on pasture." Ref: Cheeseman/Brown/MAFF. WE HAVE THE MEANS TO CONTROL CATTLE TB; WE MUST REGAIN CONTROL OF M BOVIS IN THE BADGERS. THE UK CANNOT AFFORD A STANDSTILL OF UP TO SEVEN YEARS WHILE KREBS' EXPERIMENTS REPEAT PREVIOUS WORK, WITH AN INEVITABLE RESULT DUE TO A "FLAWED" CONTROL. ISOLATING THE SOUTH WEST NO ANSWER WHEN BOVINE TB HAS ALREADY SPREAD TO THE NORTH MIDLANDS.

CONCLUSION

  Having read previous work undertaken at the taxpayers' expense over the last 30 years, the writers are of the opinion that having commissioned that work MAFF has then either ignored the results, or sanitised strategy in such a manner as to render it ineffective. If ecology is managed in such a way as to remove a complete social badger group containing M Bovis, leaving healthy badgers to recolonise after a period of sett isolation, there is no reason that cattle and badgers should not co-exist free of TB, and reduce the risk to Public health from direct contact with infected badgers.

  Cattle testing by MAFF also needs to be less secretive, with more communication between MAFF Tolworth and the grass roots who have to operate policy: Vets, farmers and local VI centres. Testing of cattle needs to be UK wide, and not restricted by parish boundaries and county constraints as at present. Many counties only test adult cattle, (NOT grazing youngstock) once in four years, thus allowing an infective "imported" yearling to entrench M Bovis in a host herd, and host badgers for up to five years before discovery. "Cattle to cattle transmission is rare, when testing is regular" (Ref: VI Centre).

  WE HAVE SEEN DURING THE LAST THREE YEARS, MARKET MANAGEMENT THROUGH DISEASE MANIPULATION, OF THE UK CATTLE POPULATION AND ITS ASSOCIATED EFFECTS ON UK AGRICULTURE. WE WOULD ASK THE COMMITTEE TO EXTEND THEIR DUTY OF CARE TO PROTECTING THE EPIZOOTIC TB STATUS OF THE UK CATTLE HERD, OR WE SHALL SEE THAT SCENARIO REPEATED. Note: Some supermarket contracts stipulate that they will not purchase animals or milk from herds under restriction.

REFERENCES ENCLOSED [NOT PRINTED]:

  1.  MAFF Annual Incidences of Reactor herds 1962-98.

  2.  East Offaly Badger Research Project 1989-95.

  *Interim report; Dolan, Eves, Bray and O'Sullivan, to follow.

  3.  Thornbury Research Study 1995 R S Clifton-Hadley et al.

  4.  MAFF: New confirmed Tuberculosis incidents by County.

  5.  MAFF: Seminar on Badgers/Bovine TB December 1993.

  6.  MAFF: 1993-98 Five Year trial.

  7.  MAFF: Badger carcasses positive for TB 1975-97.

  An offer of assistance, if requested by the Select Committee, has been made through the writers, by the TB Veterinary Officer for Cornwall, R M Q Sainsbury. B V M Amp S, MRCVS. Mr Sainsbury was called to give evidence from this county, (which experiences the highest levels of bovine TB in the UK) to Professor Zuckerman's committee in 1980, and has extensive experience of Bovine TB/badger control, under MAFF direction, 1975-99.

10 January 1999