What is bovine TB, what are the symptoms, how is it transmitted between animals and can humans catch it from cattle?
Infected animals spread the disease mainly through coughing and sneezing.
UP TO 33,000 more badgers could be killed after the government granted powers to cull the animals in new areas to stop Bovine Tuberculosis from spreading.
Here's everything we know about the disease, how it's transmitted and whether humans can get infected.
What is bovine TB?
Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease of cattle and badgers.
It is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) which can also infect and cause disease in many other mammals including humans, deer, goats, pigs, cats, dogs and badgers.
In cattle, it is mainly a respiratory disease.
There were more than 4,400 new TB herd incidents (involving a detection of typical TB lesions, inconclusive tests or where a slaughterhouse produced positive result) between May 2016 and May this year in Britain.
The government last week issued licences to cull more badgers to tackle Bovine Tuberculosis.
A shocking video showing a caged badger bleeding to death emerged after the government issued licenses to cull the creatures in 11 new areas in Devon, Wiltshire, Somerset, Dorset and Cheshire.
What are the symptoms?
It is hard to spot bovine TB as the signs are similar to other diseases and normally only develop in the advanced stages.
It is normally picked up in cattle testing before clinical signs develop or during inspections of slaughtered cattle.
Animals can get thinner, have a light fever that keeps coming back, appear weak and have a reduced appetite.
Some will also have swollen lymph nodes, in the neck and a moist cough which is worse in the morning and during cold weather or exercise.
The government states it may cause chronic mastitis, an infection of the udder.