WALES’ deputy farm minister admits it could take years for the benefits of the country’s trial badger vaccination programme to become apparent.

In a week when the number of vaccinations in the West Wales Intensive Action Area (IAA) passed the 5,000 mark, Rebecca Evans said: “We know that it may take years to properly see the benefits of some of our additional measures in the area, which includes six monthly testing and badger vaccination.

“The project aims to develop a degree of immunity to bovine TB within the badger population and should, in time, reduce the potential for the onward spread of infection to cattle and other badgers in the area.”

The vaccination programme, now in its fourth year, is scheduled to end next year.

The vaccination work is undertaken in cycles and is expected to continue until the end of October. It is expected to be completed in over seven cycles of vaccination in 2015; four cycles have been already been completed.

Most of the vaccination cycles last four weeks - the first three weeks involve liaising with the landowner and preparatory work, with vaccination taking place in the final week.

In 2014 the Welsh Government spent £929,540 vaccinating 1,316 badgers, which equated to £706 a badger.