Gloucestershire badgers face cull to curb TB spread
A FAILURE to tackle tuberculosis in cattle has given the disease a chance to spread, according to the new Conservative Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.
She warned “time has been lost in dealing with this issue” as the new coalition government announced a targeted cull of badgers to control the disease, which has blighted livestock farmers in Gloucestershire.
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A targeted cull is planned for Gloucestershire
Industry leaders, who welcomed the announcement, expect Gloucestershire to be included in any cull as it is a “hotspot” for bovine TB.
Mrs Spelman stressed a cull would only be “part of a package of measures the coalition has committed itself to introduce”.
Animal campaign groups are opposed to a cull, arguing it could make the situation worse.
The Conservative-Liberal Democrat programme for government unveiled this week pledged to introduce a carefully managed policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine TB. It was back in 2008 when the previous Labour administration decided against a cull of badgers in England to control TB in cattle, angering farmers.
More than 40,000 cattle are slaughtered in the UK every year because they were carrying, or were suspected of carrying, the TB bacterium. The Government puts the annual cost to the public purse at more than £80 million.
Mrs Spelman said time had been lost in dealing with the issue.
She said: “This makes it a more difficult problem because the scale is much greater.”
Anthony Rew, who is South West regional board chairman of the National Farmers’ Union, said: “We are pleased they have made an early announcement as they said they would, and are prepared to grasp the nettle.
“We have got to get on with it. It’s decimated the livestock industry.
“We are losing 40,000 cattle a year. That number is going up year on year.”
So far the effort had been to manage only one side of the disease.
Mr Rew said: “You can’t do one without the other, you have got to cull.
“As a region we are the major hotspot in the country. Gloucestershire like Devon has borne the brunt of it.
“The objective is healthy wildlife and healthy cattle.
“We are not trying to eradicate badgers. We are trying to eradicate the disease.”
But the Badger Trust says if the policy really was science-led, a badger cull would not be considered at all.
Trust chairman David Williams said: “In the case of killing badgers, repeated, properly-structured scientific research, authoritatively and publicly published, has demonstrated that killing them would be of only marginal benefit, and even that would not be permanent.”
5 Comments
by gerald james, Wales
Wednesday, May 26 2010, 5:31PM
“It is very easy to understand why another badger cull is called for by the farmers and politicians - bTB is at a very high level in certain areas and must be controlled!
Badger culling has always worked to control the disease over the past few decades. Those farmers and politicians of the day who insisted that the badger culls were the answer have been proved right, as was...... er...
Just a moment¿ just a moment¿
My colleague has just informed me that the bTB problem is worse than ever, so that scuppers that claim it seems!
Let¿s try another tack.. I know¿ leave it to proper scientific study!
I haven't seen the findings yet, so can anyone tell me of the recommendations from the Kreb/ISG study concluded a couple of years ago - at least THAT should prove that the farmers and politicians have always been right!
Just a moment... just a moment....
I have just been told by another colleague that the study advises that badger culls are not cost effective, and any reduction in bTB is short lived, and culling can even cause an increase/expansion of the disease in the longer term.
Just a moment¿ just a moment....what's that again?...
My colleague has also just informed me that to control bTB the study advises better farming and related practises, eg. control of cattle movement and testing. Also, the development of both cattle and badger vaccines (already underway apparently)¿
Hell - will someone help me out there! - I'm trying to stick up for the farmers and politicians, but I'm running out of options...!
Now - a more serious message to farmers for a serious problem¿.
You've tried badger culling for decades and it simply hasn't worked. Look to other countries where bTB is now under control - achieved without a cull, eg. Scotland. Don't look to Wales as Elin Jones (Rural Affairs Minister) is adamant that yet another cull is necessary. Farmers, with respect, see sense - if you wish to see the end of the problem, listen to science led studies and recommendations ¿ one MUST ask where on earth do you get the idea that culling is again the answer, or even part of the answer?
Even if culling is carried out alongside other control measures, ie. better cattle testing etc, how would you measure the effectiveness of the culling? In a nutshell ¿ you can¿t!
If all the badgers, infected or not, were wiped out in North Pembrokeshire then bTB outbreaks may fall as a result, but as badgers move back in to utilise the 'free' territory and feeding habitat, it will all start all over again. So, will the welsh cull end the problem once and for all? - no, it won't! - but the other control measures will!
As a Welshman, can I ask English farmers to do me favour. Forget for now a cull and strongly implement the advice of the ISG - bTB will fall. In 3 or 4 years improved vaccines, and tests, for cattle and badgers should be in widespread use. Within ten years I am sure bTB will be under control, and welsh farmers and government will be forced to adopt the 'english' model. At least give it a try. Just think in contrast, after spending 40 or so years culling well over 150,000 badgers (with only a small percentage being infected with bTB), the problem is now worse than ever! The facts speak for themselves.”
by Disco, Hardwicke
Tuesday, May 25 2010, 10:32PM
“It's the only way forward, this new government has got real balls.”
by Keith Morgan, monmouthshire
Tuesday, May 25 2010, 1:51PM
“About time someone has the guts to grab the bull by the horns rather than letting him die of T.B. Culling them does not mean they are going to wipe out the whole badger population just keep the numbers down, these armchair do-gooders do not see the cost or inconvienience each month involved trying to get a 30 day tb clearance test and then you need a 60 day stock clearance if you have had one tested positive, its sure funny in the area's that culls have been tested tb levels have dropped !!!!!”
by Jess Hawkins, Glos
Tuesday, May 25 2010, 9:19AM
“'But the National Farmers Union in England said the decision to go ahead with a cull in Wales showed more courage, than Hilary Benn, the Environment Secretary, has displayed on 'this singularly difficult political issue';
D. Telegraph 08 April 2008
......I will never vote for these butchers again labs....”
by Topdog, Quedgeley
Monday, May 24 2010, 9:01PM
“What a bloody disgrace.
Nice to see the new goverment take the easy way out.
Lets cull everything that spreads disease cats,dog,birds and what the hell humans spread the most diseases so lets cull them as well.
I will never vote for these butchers again tory or libs.”