Feedback sought on bovine TB impact

NEW research being undertaken by a farming charity will seek to better understand the impact of bovine TB on UK farmers’ health and wellbeing.

The Farming Community Network (FCN) study is exploring the emotional, financial and physical impacts of bTB and longterm ramifications these may have had on the farmer, farming family or farm business. The researchers are also hoping to hear about farmers’ experiences of Government policies to control and eradicate bTB.

Dr Jude McCann, chief executive of the FCN, said: “We know all too well the devastating impact bTB can have on farms in the UK. The anxiety associated with bTB testing, and the unfortunate outcome when a bTB breakdown does occur, can cause irreversible damage to a farm business and can significantly impact the health and wellbeing of farming families. We hope this study will help to shed light on this issue, provide farmers with the opportunity to share their own experiences with bTB, and help FCN and the agencies we work with to better support farmers affected.”

As part of the research, FCN is running a survey that will help the charity to better understand how farmers and farm families perceive the threat of bTB – helping to improve its support to those at risk or affected by a bTB breakdown. Farmers who have experienced a bTB breakdown are being encouraged to fill the survey in and to share their experiences. It should take no more than 10 minutes. The charity is also inviting those who fill in the survey to take part in an optional longer-form interview from September onwards.

North Wales farmer and FCN ambassador, Will Evans, said: “This is an important study that will help our industry to better understand the impact of bTB on farmers’ health and wellbeing.”

The study follows a report in 2009 conducted by FCN (Stress and Loss – a report on the impact of Bovine TB on farming families). The findings highlighted the serious and widespread impact of bTB on farmers and demonstrated this impact commonly extended across all family members as evidenced in their psychological and physical health, as well as overall financial and social wellbeing.

The survey, open for responses until mid-August, is available at fcn.org.uk/ news-events.