A RESEARCH group is launching a study to look at how farmers' perceive the TB badger vaccine.

The Countryside and Community Research Institute is a collaboration between the University of Gloucestershire, the University of the West of England, the Royal Agricultural College and Hartpury College.

The study will assess the level of farmer confidence in using the vaccination before, during and afterwards. It will also identify motivators and barriers that could influence the future use of TB vaccines.

Research is being funded with a grant of just over £630,000 from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bovine TB is a complex animal disease affecting farmed cattle and badgers. It can seriously affect the livelihoods of farmers.

In England, vaccination of cattle and/or wildlife is an important long-term policy to help reduce the impact of the disease.

Defra is funding a project to vaccinate badgers in six locations with high incidence of bovine TB, including Gloucestershire.

Dr Damian Maye is leading the social science study that will accompany the project.

He said: "The bovine TB problem is seriously affecting the livestock industry and there are a lot of strong views among the farming community over whether culling or vaccination is the best way forward.

"Over the life of the project, we'll be able to build up a picture of attitudes which may affect farmers' future use of bovine TB vaccines and what lessons can be learned and practical know-how developed to inform the future use of badger vaccines."