As part of its package of measures to control the spread of bovine TB, Defra has released a series of short videos providing farmers with advice on reducing the risks of cattle contracting TB from wildlife.

The video, released via social media site Youtube today, gives an introduction to some basic badger ecology and behaviour and uses real life farm situations to demonstrate practical measures for reducing bovine TB transmission risks from wildlife, building on bTB biosecurity advice already available to cattle farmers.

The information and advice in the video is drawn from behavioural and observational studies carried out by researchers at the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), who advise the government and who have been involved in the study of badgers and bovine TB since the 1970s.

Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said, “Good wildlife biosecurity will help to reduce the risk of cattle getting TB, and this video will help ensure famers have the most up-to-date advice to take simple and effective steps. TB is a devastating disease and good biosecurity is part of the comprehensive package of measures we need to get the disease under control and start to eradicate it.”

The training video was jointly funded by Defra, the National Farmers Union (NFU), the Welsh Government and the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS).

NFU President Peter Kendall said, “Improving on-farm biosecurity and introducing measures to keep badgers out of farm buildings and feed stores can play a part in reducing the TB risks posed to cattle herds. This video shows the industry is working hard to try all measures which could help to limit the spread and impact of this terrible disease.”

Defra said the video, which forms part of its wider TB eradication programme, implements a recommendation made by the Bovine TB Eradication Group for England in their 2009 Progress Report, which highlighted the need to provide TB affected farmers with more effective and better focused support and advice.

It will be used by Defra, the Welsh Government, the NFU, the South West TB Farm Advisory Service (SWTBFAS) and National Animal Disease Information Service at training events across the country.

The ‘introduction’ video section is available below, the rest of the video clips are available from the Defra youtube channel.