Question: Is it possible to have a predisposition towards bovine tubercolosis?

Cat O'Connor answered on 16 Jun 2011:

Oh snap hinnah7202, how topical of you!!

This is a very recent area of bTB (bovine tb) research and there is a couple of scientists in Norther Ireland who have done so cool work on it, looking at the genetics of certain cow breeds to see if some are more susceptible to infection than others. There research is in the very early stages right now but it looks like some breeds get more bTB than others but they still need to do a lot of work!

A couple of other studies have tried to show if beef cows or dairy cows get more bTB infection, but the jury is still out on that one as some studies have said yes and others have said no!

In the UK, there is one def factor that means you’ll have more chance of getting infection in your cattle herd, and this is where you live! If you live in Wales or in the south west of England you are more likely to get infected than if you lived in say, Scotland.

Another factor that can also predisose your cattle herd to infection is what type of farm you have. Say if you had a small dairy farm, 20 cows and never bought in new cows because you bred all your own cows, then you’ll have a low chance of getting the infection through buying in cows, which is a major pathway of how infection is spread. But say if you were a dealer, who buys cows to sell on or buys cows, makes them fat and sells them on, then there will be lots of cattle moving through you’re herd and you guessed it, you’ll have more chance of getting infected!

Does this answer your question? It’s really late while i’m typing this so if i’m not clear or you have any more questions just comment or send me through another question.

It really was an excellent question!

Cat