Table 1 Definitions for explanatory variables tested in the hierarchical model.
Explanatory variable | Variable defined |
|---|---|
Triplet code | Treatment in the Random Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) (Bourne et al., 2007) |
|  | Proactive – all badgers culled |
|  | Reactive – badgers culled in response to tuberculosis herd breakdown |
|  | Survey – no badgers culled |
FMD restocked or continuously stocked | Herd was totally depopulated or herd was not totally depopulated in 2001 due to the foot-and-mouth (FMD) epidemic |
Geographical area | Farm location |
|  | Area A – (Gloucestershire Herefordshire/Worcestershire) |
|  | Area B – (North East Devon South Somerset) |
|  | Area C – (North West Devon North East Cornwall) |
Log (mean herd size) | The log mean number of cattle present in the herd during study period logged from the VetNet database |
Cattle sex | Cattle were female or male taken from the British Cattle Movement System |
Origin of replacement cattle | Homebred (tested in natal herd) Purchased (tested in different from natal herd) |
Mean herd N caninum seroprevalence | Lower or higher than the overall median herd N caninum seroprevalence of 10% |
Cattle age (years) | In yearly intervals from 2 years to 10+ years old |