A brand new feeder has been designed to help prevent badgers from accessing mineral licks, helping to prevent the spread of bTB. The Badger Beater feeder was recently trialled at the Royal Agricultural University’s Harnhill Farm over a three month period, with no successful attempts made at trying to access the new feeder over 73 nights. A regular mineral lick, not placed in a feeder, acted as a control.
David Thornton, from the manufacturer Rumenco, was pleased with the outcome, saying: “We are very pleased that the feeder has prevented badgers from accessing mineral licks and are excited about the potential influence this development may have within the livestock sector especially within Bovine Tuberculosis high risk areas.”
The new feeder stands a metre above the ground and is made of plastic durable enough to withstand the rigours of farm life. David Thornton, went onto say: “In addition to the main outcome, the trial also found that the Badger Beater feeder was able to withstand cattle regularly pushing and rubbing against it and was easily accessed by cows and calves alike.”