Dr. Damien Barrett:

We need to refocus on how we break down the transmission pathway or block the transmission pathway between cattle and badgers. It is unrealistic to think that vaccination is going to deliver that outcome on its own. We captured around 9,000 badgers last year for vaccination. That figure has doubled since 2019. We conducted some modelling research and it suggests that vaccination on its own and our current controls are insufficient to eradicate TB. This also suggests we need to break the link. We need to prevent the opportunities for badger-to-cattle interactions. This involves fencing off badger setts, raising water troughs and fencing off yards. Beet and maize in yards are two foodstuffs badgers are very fond of. They will need to be fenced off so the badgers cannot access those resources. The Department oversees the vaccinations but there is also an onus on farmers to break this transmission link themselves.