Letter: Don't cull our badgers

With regard to the proposed Government plans to allow farmers and landowners to slaughter badgers in England and Wales, why is it that Scotland has been declared TB-free? I believe their approach to cattle movement and testing has a lot to do with this.

Also why is their TB-free status barely or ever mentioned in the wider debate?

I thought your readers might be interested that Scotland has recently had a 'badger week' which ran from October 3 to 9, and which had an emphasis on raising awareness.

From what I've read on this issue, virtually all scientific research has shown the mass slaughter of badgers in hotspots is not effective, and can even make it worse.

I hope the dairy industry can be more patient as a vaccine for badgers and cattle looks more feasible and a lot more morally acceptable.

I'm sure there are many people, like myself, who would volunteer to help (obviously with full training) farmers to vaccinate badgers.

I also think good landowners and farmers should be paid a lot more to encourage them to co-exist with wildlife and conservation projects.

Surely the dairy industry does not want to be associated with, and blamed for, images on TV and in newspapers of badger families being exterminated, if the proposed cull was ever allowed?

M Claydon

Much Wenlock