Cattle and badger dynamics in relation to the potential transmission of Mycobacterium bovis

Since M. bovis can survive in the environment it is pertinent to ensure cattle cannot access these locations, ideally by avoiding the fields but if this is not possible then by erecting barricades i.e. fencing to prevent cattle access. Badgers avoided fields with cattle present, this was confirmed by both camera traps and collared badgers. Forage and rough pasture fields were preferred by badgers, and cattle grazing in these fields should be avoided to help reduce co-occurrence.<br><br>Implementing changes to cattle management at grass could reduce contact between local herds therefore reducing transmission between herds.

This study suggests that 18% of grazing days were spent adjacent to neighbouring herds, land fragments of farms overlapped with multiple other farms and animals in herds moved approximately 27.5km during the grazing season. Recommendations to reduce neighbour contacts include; avoid grazing boundary fields, double fencing if not possible, minimise the number of land fragments used by grazing cattle and moving cattle between spatially close fields.

Recommendations are made that are low cost, low tech and could be achievable by farmers on most farms. The recommendations should be communicated to farmers to help raise awareness.<br>