Letter: Badger cull is not only action on bovine TB
Culling is just one of a range of measures the Government is taking to arrest the increase in bovine TB cases.
A number of scientists have offered their opinion on the Government’s policy of culling badgers as part of a package of measures to reverse the sharp rise in TB in cattle.
We have great respect for the scientists involved and believe there is broad agreement on the science underpinning the Government’s policy – that badger culling can result in an overall beneficial effect on the disease in cattle.
This aligns with the view expressed last year by a specially convened meeting of scientific experts to discuss the issue, including several of the scientists who signed the open letter criticising the Government’s policy.
Government policy is based on sound analysis of 15 years of intensive research.
Critics are not able to cite new scientific evidence or suggest an alternative workable solution for dealing quickly with this rising epidemic.
Culling is just one of a range of measures to arrest the increase in new bovine TB cases, including intensifying testing to remove infected cattle, tighter cattle movement controls, guidance to farmers on stopping badgers from contacting cattle, and further research into vaccination.
Professor Ian Boyd and Nigel Gibbens
Defra
Comments for: "Letter: Badger cull is not only action on bovine TB"
"Government policy is based on sound analysis of 15 years of intensive research"
Really? Can you explain the following statement made by Lord John Krebs, the architect of the previous 10 year culling trial? I'm guessing he knows a thing or two about this research.
"The scientific case is as clear as it can be: this cull is not the answer to TB in cattle. The government is cherry-picking bits of data to support its case."
And this statement, made by Lord Robert May, a former government chief scientist and president of the Royal Society:
"It is very clear to me that the government's policy does not make sense. I have no sympathy with the decision. They are transmuting evidence-based policy into policy-based evidence."
Apparently the current government Chief Scientist has also refused to back the cull.
I'm no expert, I just picked up those quotes from a newspaper report, but to me they do seem to be completely contradictory to your statement about sound analysis.
To me, this whole cull business stinks of Government trying to give something to the dairy farmers to keep them sweet while allowing their buddies in the retail business to carry on robbing them blind.
linda heatley
This is researech gleaned from the 10year study by proffesor Bourne, which after 10years and killing 11,000 badgers, concluded that culling badgers does not work!!!!! The goverment have choosen to ignore it. TB cases in the last year, have NOT increased, but have in fact decreased by 30%,due to increased bio-security on farms. the figures for that can be found on Defras own website. There will be a debate on this issue in parliament on 25th oct, next week, and calls have been made for the cull to be suspended until after that debate. The fact that it has not been shows yet again, that this goverment will not listen to facts about anything, they just do thoier own thing!!
Johnboy
Same old, same old, one side say's one thing the other say's the opposite. either badgers do play a part or they don't. both sides will cherry pick information and statistics to back their argument, it doesen't matter whether they are Lord, Sir or proffessor they will be paid by someone who wants them build up their case either for or against a cull, unfortunatly there is no such thing as independent these days and if anyone thinks there is, they are on a different plannet.
The Original Jake
In this case, one side consists of here today, gone tomorrow political weasels, while the other consists of eminent scientific heavyweights.
John
I would like to add my voice to the criticism of the cull plan. As I have farming family I am well aware of the TB threat and was initially in favour of a cull "trial". When others first criticised the cull I went looking for evidence that they were wrong and it would work, but there is none!
Instead there are several previous culls, none of which worked (and a couple made things worse), and even this cull "trial" is expecting a miniscule bTB reduction. Farmers are going to be vilified in the press for decimating local wildlife, at a time when we need the public's support and DEFRA's vastly underfunded bTB combat budget is being depleted on a nonsense cull which won't work.
Pip
Can't have looked very hard for evidence, john.
Take some time to read through the following, you might understand a bit better,
http://bovinetb.blogspot.co.uk/
I would thoroughly recommend reading this blog to anyone else who thinks they have the requisite knowledge base to vilify farmers, the nfu, defra and the government for attempting to take positive action in the fight against a disease which could well escalate into a full scale public health concern.
JOHN JONES
I can't work this one out. there are NO Badgers on the Isle-of-man, yet the cattle still have T.B. This information prevents the circle from closing. Answers please.