Badger Culling Fears

Sir David King’s report on bovine TB in cattle and badgers sweeps away 10 years of science, say The Wildlife Trusts.

Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: “It is a clear attempt to bring culling back on the agenda and flies in the face of science, public opinion and common sense. The Independent Scientific Group (ISG) has already given us the definitive scientific view that badger culling provides ‘no meaningful contribution’ and is ‘not cost effective’ as a control measure for combating bovine tuberculosis (bTB). ”

The Wildlife Trusts accept TB in cattle is a significant problem for farming in the UK and that urgent action is required to combat the disease. We particularly recognise the important role the livestock industry can play in the environmentally-sensitive management of the countryside and the serious disruption and anxiety caused to farmers experiencing a herd breakdown.

However, The Wildlife Trusts believe the report produced by Sir David King does not provide any new data to inform the scientific debate on badgers and bovine TB. It ignores issues such as the cost effectiveness or practicality of any action and does not provide a balanced view of the issue. It also fails to consider the efficacy of cattle controls which are important mechanisms for controlling the spread of the disease. We do not believe Government should use this report as the basis for future policy on bovine TB.

With no background or terms of reference, this report has been developed behind closed doors despite the significant public interest. We are therefore concerned that it is more about political expediency than science, particularly in the face of overwhelming evidence provided by the ISG in June. The ISG report represents 10 years of science, millions of pounds of research and the involvement of tens of scientists. It concluded:

“Badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control in Britain. Indeed, some policies under consideration are likely to make matters worse rather than better.” And that badger culling is not a ‘cost-effective’ control mechanism.

The Wildlife Trusts believe the following cattle-based control measures must be rigorously enforced to control bovine TB:

• Improved cattle testing (including use of the gamma interferon test) and monitoring of testing
• Stricter movement restrictions including pre and post-movement testing
• Improved husbandry and biosecurity on farms
• Continued research and trials for vaccine development

We also accept that bovine TB is in the badger population and that badgers, along with other native mammals, may act as a reservoir for the disease and a source of bovine TB infection in cattle. We believe that research to reduce potential re-infection from wildlife populations should be progressed, specifically looking at demographic trends behind the perturbation effect and the development of an effective vaccine for badgers.