Badger Culling "unlikely To Be An Effective Control Measure" Say Top Scientists

The Badger Trust has welcomed advice from Defra's Science Advisory Council (SAC) which states that badger culling is "unlikely to be an effective control measure" for bovine TB[1]. The advice is contained in a letter dated 20 January 2006 and sent to Defra's Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Howard Dalton. The SAC says that research "supports the hypothesis that a substantial proportion of infection of cattle in GB at present is not due to infection by badgers, but is associated with other mechanisms such as cattle-to-cattle transmission". Crucially, the SAC emphasises that TB control measures based on cattle must be "implemented successfully" before any badger culling could be considered: "Culling of badgers is therefore unlikely to be an effective control measure unless and until further measures to reduce breakdowns due to mechanisms such as cattle-to-cattle transmission have been implemented successfully." It also advises that the "small reduction" in TB achieved by badger culling "may not be cost effective". David Williams, chairman of the Badger Trust, commented: "Continued claims by the National Farmers Union that badgers are the primary source of bovine TB are clearly unfounded[2]. We urge the farming industry to reverse its decision not to cooperate with cattle- based TB control measures if badger culling is not permitted[3]. The NFU has lost the badger culling argument and must now show some political maturity and intelligent leadership in this debate." How you can help You can help save our badgers by giving your response to the public consultation. DEFRA are encouraging ‘electronic means’ of response, and we have provided a simple e-mail that you can send them. Click here to find out more 1. http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/documents/papers/2005/SAC-TB(05)5% 20Supplementary%20Report.pdf 2. For example, in the Western Morning News on 20 January 2006, NFU spokesman Ian Johnson claimed: "We have overwhelming veterinary support for the view that bovine TB has a non-bovine source." 3. In "Farm ultimatum on badger cull", the Western Morning News reported on 13 January that "At a private meeting of 60 of the most influential names in the Westcountry beef and dairy industry, farmers have said they will refuse to co-operate, unless the cull is carried by officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with their help, and they adopt the humane cull method of gassing."

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