18/07/19 New TB test, birds of prey, no-till cereals

Farming Today

• Episode: 18/07/19 New TB test, birds of prey, no-till cereals
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:28
• Published: 2019-07-18 07:02

Scientists have developed a TB test which they believe could pave the way for a new vaccine. An international team led by Professor Glyn Hewinson at the University of Aberystwyth has published details of a skin test which differentiates between animals that have been vaccinated with TB and those that are diseased. Experts believe a vaccine could be five years away. Police in Scotland are investigating the deaths and disappearance of raptors on grouse moors. In the past couple of months two tagged golden eagles have gone missing and two hen harriers have been killed in traps. The RSPB and Scottish Land and Estates which represents landowners have condemned the persecution. Leadhills Estate in South Lanarkshire has said it's not responsible for a hen harrier killed by an illegal trap on its land. An arable farmer in Wiltshire who's not ploughed his fields for five years says he's saving money on fuel and fertiliser. George Hosier claims the yield of his no-till cereals hasn't suffered.