EXTRA measures to combat bovine TB in England have been confirmed by Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss.

A Biosecurity Action Plan sets out plans to help farmers reduce the risk of disease spread on their farms – and a new service will give farmers living within the badger cull areas bespoke veterinary advice on TB management.

The plan came as the results of the second year of the badger culls were published. The chief vet has said that the results in Somerset show that the approach can be carried out effectively.

Ms Truss said: "During the last parliament, bovine TB rates in England soared to the highest in Europe. That is why we are taking strong action in pursuing our comprehensive strategy, including tighter cattle movement controls, vaccinations and culling.

"The chief vet’s advice is that the results of this year’s cull in Somerset show they can be effective. That is why I am determined to continue with a comprehensive strategy that includes culling.”

There are also plans to consult on a package of tougher cattle measures in the new year, including statutory post-movement testing for cattle entering the Low Risk Area.

Other planned measures include launching a web-based map showing locations of TB under new statutory powers introduced earlier this year, and publishing disease reports for the Edge and Low Risk Areas.

Defra has also awarded £50,000 in small grants to livestock markets to support measures to encourage cattle purchasers to give greater consideration to the TB risk of animals they are buying.

The department said that independently audited results of the badger culls show that 341 badgers were removed in Somerset and 274 in Gloucestershire during 2014, with levels of humaneness and a high standard of public safety maintained.

In Somerset, the minimum number of badgers was exceeded. Defra said the results for Gloucestershire reflected the challenges of "extensive unlawful protest and intimidation".

The European Commission has endorsed the TB eradication programme by providing further financial support in 2015.

Meurig Raymond, NFU president, welcomed the report and called for the roll- out of badger culling to other areas where bovine TB is rife as soon as possible.

He said: “We’ve been told by farmers in the Somerset cull zone that there has been a huge reduction in the number of herds under TB restriction since culling started in 2013, from 34 per cent to 11 per cent.

"There have also been reports of herds in the Gloucestershire cull area that had been down with bTB long-term that have gone clear since culling started. There are many other areas where bTB is rife and is having a massive impact on farming family businesses, which would benefit from the roll out of culling badgers. Following the Chief Veterinary Officer’s advice that badger culling can work, we need the policy to be implemented in others areas next year."

The NFU's aim remained the same – the control and eradication of bovine TB using all available options.

"This includes the use of badger vaccination in the areas on the edge of disease spread to help stop the disease spreading further, the use of cattle vaccination when it’s available, and the use of appropriate cattle testing and movement controls that help with disease control while allowing businesses to continue to operate viably," said Mr Raymond.