Over the past decade, the rising incidence of bovine TB has resulted in recognised economic impacts on the agricultural and ancillary industries and this has been particularly evident in South West England. The range of economic impacts resulting from bovine TB are well recognised, and these have been exacerbated through having coincided with a period of considerable economic pressure on the agricultural industry. 
 
The government is currently developing a new strategy for tackling bovine TB. Bovine TB is acknowledged as one of the most difficult animal health problems facing UK farmers with the incidence now rising at 18 per cent each year, but there is no scientific consensus about why bovine TB is rising again (having apparently been brought under reasonable control by the 1970s), although there is increasing scientific evidence that of a reservoir of infection in wildlife, particularly in badgers. 
 
This study was commissioned by the South West RDA and a sub-group of the Strategy for Sustainable Food and Farming - Regional Implementation Steering Group to provide a firm evidence base of the economic and social impacts of the disease in the region. 
 
An economic impact assessment of Bovine Tuberculosis in the South West (Adobe Acrobat Reader Document - 1546.76kb)