New strategy to tackle bovine TB in England

Developed with input from over 100 farmers, vets, scientists, industry and government representatives, as well as members of the public, the recommended strategy focuses on what will make the biggest difference on farms: reducing TB in cattle, reducing the risk of spread between herds, and giving farmers and vets better tools and information to stay ahead of the disease. 

The prevalence of TB in cattle herds in England has dropped from a peak of 6.4% at the end of March 2018 to 3.5% at the end of December 2025. Despite this, the disease remains one of the biggest and most persistent problems facing English cattle farming. In 2025, over 20,000 cattle from farms in England were slaughtered. 

This is the first update to England’s bovine TB strategy in 12 years. 

The co-design steering group, which includes Professor James Wood at the University of Cambridge, recognises that to get on top of potentially hidden infection - which can otherwise allow bovine TB to spread within and between herds - skin testing must be complemented with more sensitive tests and the ability to use additional private, ancillary testing. 

Doing more of the same will not be enough. A step change in pace is needed, with clearer direction and stronger shared ownership across government, farmers, vets and industry.

Commenting on the new strategy, John Cross, farmer and chair of the co-design steering group said: “Farmers, veterinarians, scientists, sector bodies, and government have worked together on this new recommended strategy and must work together to deliver coordinated action. Every person affected by bovine TB has a role to play. The enemy is the pathogen, and we must remain laser focused on that. We cannot afford to stand still - the time for action is now.” 

Professor James Wood, in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Cambridge, added: “Cattle vaccination is a really exciting element of the new strategy - it’s a very powerful tool to block TB transmission between cattle, and we are working with farmers to determine how best to use it.” 

Key elements of the strategy 

The proposed strategy sets out almost 40 recommendations across three areas:

• Keep the focus on cattle – most bovine TB spreads between cattle, so this is where effort has the greatest impact;
• Act beyond cattle where it matters – use proportionate, science-informed action to manage other farmed species and wildlife where they pose a clear risk to cattle;
• Strengthen local leadership and delivery – clarify roles, speed up decisions, and target action using better data and local insight.

For farmers and vets, this means cutting cattle-to-cattle spread, using TB data to make better decisions, staying TB-free through prevention and innovation, putting farmers and vets in the driving seat locally, and reducing TB risk from the wider environment.

Crucially, it also sets the ambition to deploy a cattle vaccine and DIVA (Detect Infected Among Vaccinated Animals) test by 2030. A licence application for the cattle vaccine has already been submitted to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. 

The proposed strategy sets out a clear, practical plan to achieve the vision for 2038: achieving Officially Bovine TB-Free status in England under World Organisation for Animal Health requirements – protecting the health of cattle and people, supporting the wellbeing of farmers and vets, and contributing to the environmental and economic sustainability of farm businesses.

The British Cattle Veterinary Association said: “The strategy rightly places cattle disease control at its core while acknowledging the importance of practical delivery, farmer wellbeing and veterinary expertise. BCVA particularly welcomes the pledge to roll-out cattle vaccination by 2030 and the emphasis on collaboration between farmers and private vets and APHA, giving veterinary teams the tools and flexibility needed to support informed, proactive herd health decisions.”

The British Veterinary Association said: “The strategy reflects the importance of collaborative, evidence-led approaches to tackling bovine TB and aligns closely with BVA policy priorities. BVA supports the continued commitment to a comprehensive eradication strategy that is practical, science-based and responsive to the needs of farmers, vets and rural communities.”

The National Farmers’ Union said: “This is a critical moment in the journey to eradicate bovine tuberculosis. We have seen impressive progress through the collective efforts of farmers, vets and government, but bTB remains a devastating disease that continues to place a heavy burden on farming businesses. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with government and industry to see tangible change, which supports a science-based and evidence-led approach for our farmers to continue reducing bTB.”

The proposed strategy was developed by a co-design steering group of the Bovine TB Partnership for England. It involved the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), British Veterinary Association (BVA), British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), and the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), alongside individual members from the University of Cambridge, the Zoological Society of London, and representatives from the farming community.

Every element of the proposed strategy is informed by science and evidence, building on the latest evidence review published in 2025 by a panel of experts led by Professor Sir Charles Godfray.

What is bovine TB?

Bovine TB is caused by bacteria from the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, primarily Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis).

M. bovis can infect many mammalian species, including people. It is this human health risk which ultimately justifies the commitment of successive governments to control bovine TB.

Despite its wide host range, M. bovis mostly infects cattle. Other farmed animals, for example, pigs, goats, sheep and camelids, are occasionally infected but seldom transmit the disease to cattle.

 The full strategy is available here.