Menu
15/12/2011
Opposition Fails To Halt Huge Badger Cull
A major cull of Britain's badgers is to go ahead despite calls from animal campaigners for the plan to be scrapped.
On Wednesday, Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, approved culls in two trial areas in an attempt to control bovine TB. The trials will take place after the Olympic Games next year, after police chiefs warned their numbers would struggle if clashes between protesters and farmers broke out during London 2012.
On Thursday, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh spoke out against the Government’s decision to proceed with the badger cull.
“For a badger cull to work, it has to be cost-effective, humane and it has to reduce bovine TB. The cull will cost farmers more than it saves them and will spread bovine TB in the short term as badgers move out of cull areas.
“We need a science-led policy to manage cattle movements and to develop a vaccine to tackle TB in badgers and cattle. Today’s announcement is bad news for wildlife, bad news for farmers and bad news for the taxpayer.”
The badger cull is expected to lead to a 16 per cent reduction in bovine TB, which was behind the slaughter of 25,000 cattle in England last year.
However, animal rights group, Animal Aid, have now hit out at the plan saying the decision by Caroline Spelman represented a "miserable capitulation" to a cattle farming industry that is intent on pursuing "abusive practices" leading to high levels of disease.
Animal Aid claims there is overwhelming scientific evidence that the mass destruction of badgers will not reduce the incidence of bovine TB in cattle.
Animal Aid Director Andrew Tyler said: "Caroline Spelman, as expected, has taken the cowardly decision to order the slaughter of badgers. She has done this instead of demanding that farmers deal with the problems of their own making. This wanton slaughter is both vicious and counter-productive. The high level of bovine TB is not caused by badgers. It is the consequence of farming practices that mercilessly exploit cattle for profit – depriving them of everything that makes life meaningful."
The group said a decade-long study, costing £35 million, by the Independent Scientific Group on cattle TB, concluded that badger culling could not ‘meaningfully contribute’ to the control of the disease because it displaces badgers, spreading infection over a wider area. "The disease was almost conquered in the 1960s, without killing any badgers – the incidence stabilising at about 1,000 cases per year for around 20 years. Numbers soared when annual cattle testing ceased in the mid 1980s, followed by uncontrolled cattle movements."
The group added that recent figures from Wales confirmed stringent testing for the disease, coupled with movement controls, can lead to a dramatic decline in the number of cows killed due to bovine TB.
"The underlying causes of bovine TB, and numerous other diseases that kill even greater numbers of cows every year, are the intensive and stressful conditions to which the animals are subjected.
"Given such farming methods, it is little wonder that there are epidemic levels of mastitis, lameness and premature infertility, all of which result in the deaths each year of many more cows than those caused by bovine TB."
(DW)
On Wednesday, Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, approved culls in two trial areas in an attempt to control bovine TB. The trials will take place after the Olympic Games next year, after police chiefs warned their numbers would struggle if clashes between protesters and farmers broke out during London 2012.
On Thursday, Labour’s Shadow Environment Secretary Mary Creagh spoke out against the Government’s decision to proceed with the badger cull.
“For a badger cull to work, it has to be cost-effective, humane and it has to reduce bovine TB. The cull will cost farmers more than it saves them and will spread bovine TB in the short term as badgers move out of cull areas.
“We need a science-led policy to manage cattle movements and to develop a vaccine to tackle TB in badgers and cattle. Today’s announcement is bad news for wildlife, bad news for farmers and bad news for the taxpayer.”
The badger cull is expected to lead to a 16 per cent reduction in bovine TB, which was behind the slaughter of 25,000 cattle in England last year.
However, animal rights group, Animal Aid, have now hit out at the plan saying the decision by Caroline Spelman represented a "miserable capitulation" to a cattle farming industry that is intent on pursuing "abusive practices" leading to high levels of disease.
Animal Aid claims there is overwhelming scientific evidence that the mass destruction of badgers will not reduce the incidence of bovine TB in cattle.
Animal Aid Director Andrew Tyler said: "Caroline Spelman, as expected, has taken the cowardly decision to order the slaughter of badgers. She has done this instead of demanding that farmers deal with the problems of their own making. This wanton slaughter is both vicious and counter-productive. The high level of bovine TB is not caused by badgers. It is the consequence of farming practices that mercilessly exploit cattle for profit – depriving them of everything that makes life meaningful."
The group said a decade-long study, costing £35 million, by the Independent Scientific Group on cattle TB, concluded that badger culling could not ‘meaningfully contribute’ to the control of the disease because it displaces badgers, spreading infection over a wider area. "The disease was almost conquered in the 1960s, without killing any badgers – the incidence stabilising at about 1,000 cases per year for around 20 years. Numbers soared when annual cattle testing ceased in the mid 1980s, followed by uncontrolled cattle movements."
The group added that recent figures from Wales confirmed stringent testing for the disease, coupled with movement controls, can lead to a dramatic decline in the number of cows killed due to bovine TB.
"The underlying causes of bovine TB, and numerous other diseases that kill even greater numbers of cows every year, are the intensive and stressful conditions to which the animals are subjected.
"Given such farming methods, it is little wonder that there are epidemic levels of mastitis, lameness and premature infertility, all of which result in the deaths each year of many more cows than those caused by bovine TB."
(DW)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
20 March 2012
Badger Cull Scrapped
A controversial plan to cull badgers has been dropped by the Welsh government. The plan was hoped to wipe out bovine TB in cattle but environment minister John Griffiths said after carefully considering the scientific evidence he has instead opted to vaccinate the animals.
Badger Cull Scrapped
A controversial plan to cull badgers has been dropped by the Welsh government. The plan was hoped to wipe out bovine TB in cattle but environment minister John Griffiths said after carefully considering the scientific evidence he has instead opted to vaccinate the animals.
01 March 2005
Badger cull considered in plans to tackle bovine TB
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned that badgers could be culled in order to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Defra stressed that scientific, as well as other evidence, was "vital" to solving the problem.
Badger cull considered in plans to tackle bovine TB
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned that badgers could be culled in order to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Defra stressed that scientific, as well as other evidence, was "vital" to solving the problem.
16 March 2004
Europe threatened by drug-resistant TB strains
The prevalence of strains of resistant tuberculosis in Eastern Europe is a major concern to public health in the European Union.
Europe threatened by drug-resistant TB strains
The prevalence of strains of resistant tuberculosis in Eastern Europe is a major concern to public health in the European Union.
27 August 2013
Badger Cull Begins In Somerset
The National Farmer's Union (NFU) have confirmed that a controversial badger cull has begun in Somerset. It is understood that some 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in six weeks in an effort to control the spread of bovine TB, which it is claimed is spread to cattle from infected badgers.
Badger Cull Begins In Somerset
The National Farmer's Union (NFU) have confirmed that a controversial badger cull has begun in Somerset. It is understood that some 5,000 badgers are expected to be killed in six weeks in an effort to control the spread of bovine TB, which it is claimed is spread to cattle from infected badgers.
15 December 2005
New measures announced to tackle bovine TB
The government has announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England. The measures include the introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing in cattle and a 12-week consultation on badger culling, as well as the introduction of a new compensation scheme.
New measures announced to tackle bovine TB
The government has announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England. The measures include the introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing in cattle and a 12-week consultation on badger culling, as well as the introduction of a new compensation scheme.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A showery start with outbreaks most frequent north of Lough Neagh and through the morning, before dwindling during the afternoon as the northwest breezes ease and brighter spells of weak sunshine prosper. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
