Farmers urged to share their experiences with bovine TB in new industry survey
8th June 2023
Farmers are invited to fill out a short 10-minute survey relating to bovine TB as part of a new research project led by The Farming Community Network (FCN), which seeks to better understand the impact of this devastating disease on farmers’ lives and wellbeing.
The study specifically looks at the emotional, financial and physical impacts of bTB and the long-term consequences of these on farmers and farm businesses. The charity is also hoping to hear about farmers’ take on government policies to control and eradicate bTB.
Through better understanding how farmers and farm families perceive the threat of bTB, FCN aims to improve its support services to those currently at risk of a bTB breakdown or have been previously affected by the disease.
Dr Jude McCann, CEO of the charity, highlighted the negative impacts anxiety related to bTB testing can have on farmers’ health and wellbeing, as well as the potentially irreversible damage caused to farm businesses when a bTB outbreak does occur.
“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,” she added.
This latest study follows a report previously published by the charity in 2009, which shed light on the serious and widespread impact of bTB on farmers and their families, as evidenced in their psychological and physical health, as well as in their overall financial and social wellbeing.
The publication ‘Stress and Loss – a report on the impact of Bovine TB on farming families’ was based on interviews with 68 livestock farmers in the bTB hotspot areas of South West England, and eastern Wales.
Linda Jones, FCN Cymru national manager, urged Welsh livestock farmers to fill out the short survey to help the charity gain a better picture of how the impact of a bTB breakdown as well as the stress and worry associated with an upcoming bTB test affects farming families.
North Wales farmer and FCN ambassador Will Evans also emphasized the importance of the study in providing appropriate support to those in need.
He added: “The threat of bTB is endemic in parts of the UK – the findings of this study will help FCN and the wider industry in enhancing our understanding of the impacts of this awful disease and developing targeted support.”
The survey is open to responses until mid-August and is available here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/3HG5YFG
For a Welsh-language version of the survey, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5NW7D8V
FCN is also inviting those who fill in the survey to take part in an optional longer-form interview from September onwards.
