Badger culling to continue despite low TB rate

THE CULLING of badgers to combat bovine TB is to continue even though the numbers getting the disease are at their lowest since the eradication programme began in the 1950s, said Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney.

Mr Coveney said while nobody liked culling “we have a responsibility to protect our beef herds, in particular, and our dairy herds”.

The culling programme had played “a significant and positive role” and only took place where there was believed to be a problem, he said.

There are an estimated 80,000 to 90,000 badgers in the State and since 2000 the number of “reactors” – cattle that have failed the mandatory test for bovine TB – has fallen from 40,000 to 18,500.

The Minister told Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan that in Britain, which did not cull badgers now but would begin a pilot project in the autumn, the number of reactors had increased from 6,000 in 1999 to 33,000 in 2010.

Field trials in badger vaccination were under way and, if successful, they would be incorporated in the eradication programme, Mr Coveney said.

But “it will be some years before the trials are completed and targeted badger removals will continue in the medium term”.

Ms O’Sullivan raised the issue during agriculture questions in the Dáil this week, pointing to the divergence between research cited by the Minister and research she had received from the Irish Wildlife Trust, “which shows culling of badgers has little or no effect on the eradication of TB and that it increased levels”.

She pointed to findings that “even if all badgers in the country were removed the same levels of TB would remain”.

Mr Coveney cited research carried out since 1989, including a project in four areas showing an improvement of almost 60 per cent following culling.

Ms O’Sullivan expressed concern about the use of snares, which she said resulted in “extended periods of suffering for badgers, leaving the young unattended”.

She asked how could “we as a humane country justify the use of such a cruel instrument”.

She also spoke of arrests of people involved in badger baiting in Northern Ireland.

The Minister acknowledged the need for a new approach to animal welfare, and said this would be evident from a new Bill he would publish soon.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/0213/1224311684912.html

Cull decision is shot in the dark

The Wildlife Trusts today express disappointment and regret at the Government’s decision to press ahead with a cull of badgers in pilot areas in England.


The Wildlife Trusts call on the Government to put biosecurity and vaccination at the centre of efforts to tackle this disease and avoid wasting more time and money on a badger cull.

Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said:

“A badger cull is the wrong tool to address this serious and complex problem and a distraction from other measures to tackle bovine TB. An industry-led cull with open shooting in the countryside is untested and these pilots will not provide a scientific evaluation of the impact on bovine TB. The rationale for any cull of native species needs to be extremely clear and well proven. We do not believe this is the case with the proposed badger cull.”

The Wildlife Trusts believe that Defra should pursue the following as a matter of priority:

• Support landowners to improve on-farm biosecurity and the deployment of the injectable BadgerBCG vaccine;

• Continue to develop an oral vaccine for badgers;

• Complete development of a cattle vaccine and secure change to EU regulation to permit its commercial deployment.


Paul Wilkinson continues:

“The Government’s priority should be preventing transmission of the disease on-farm, through improved biosecurity, badger vaccination and making swift progress on a cattle vaccine.”

Earlier this year, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was the first non-governmental organisation to begin deployment of the injectable BadgerBCG vaccine on seven of its nature reserves. The outcomes from this first year of a five-year vaccination programme are available in a published report at: www.wildlifetrusts.org/badgers-and-bovineTB.

Contact information:
Anna Guthrie (Media & PR Manager)
Office: 01636 670075
Mobile: 07887 754659
Email: aguthrie@wildlifetrusts.org

Tanya Perdikou (Media & Campaigns Officer)
Office: 01636 670057
Mobile: 07887 754657
Email: tperdikou@wildlifetrusts.org

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2011/12/14/cull-decision-shot-dark

Wales badger cull decision early in 2012

First Minister Carwyn Jones says a decision on plans for a badger cull in parts of west Wales will be made early next year.


Opponents have accused the Welsh government of delaying a decision that was initially expected in the autumn.

The cull was put on hold in June when ministers appointed an independent panel to review scientific evidence.

The cull had been part of an attempt by the previous Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition government to combat TB.

'Science-led'
Labour, which has been governing alone since May's assembly election, has promised a "science-led" approach towards bovine TB.

At question time in the Senedd, Conservative AM Paul Davies said one of the main priorities of farmers in his constituency was tackling bovine TB which was having a huge impact on cattle.

Mr Davies' Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency was to be the site of the so-called intensive action area where badgers were to be culled.


He said he understood the panel met for the last time on 11 November - five months after Environment Minister John Griffiths announced the review.

Plaid Cymru AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas said the government promised the decision would not be unnecessarily delayed.

"The truth of the matter is that there is no new scientific evidence. All you're trying to do is defer the decision because you don't have the courage that the former minister had," he said, referring to the previous Plaid minister Elin Jones.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said it was "very strange" for someone who had not seen the report to state that there was no new scientific evidence.
He said: "A full statement will be made during the early months of next year."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-16006967

Vets dismiss 'unrealistic spin' on badger vaccination

THE British Veterinary Association (BVA) has described claims that badger vaccination represents a viable alternative to culling as ‘unrealistic spin’.

The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust has published a report into its summer badger vaccination programme, which took place at seven of its nature reserves, including a dairy farm over a total area of 170 hectares.

In total 38 badgers were trapped and vaccinated at the seven sites. The first year capital cost of the project, which will be spread over a number of years, was £6,958 and the implementation cost was £7,110. The report said the average cost of the project equated to £51/ha.

“We are delighted with the results. The report provides proof that there is an affordable and viable alternative to the proposed cull,” the trust’s chief executive Dr. Gordon McGlone said.

He said it demonstrates that if groups of land owners join together to vaccinate badgers it would ‘become affordable with no associated negative impact’.

“Culling, as its most vocal supporters admit, may increase bTB in neighbouring herds through perturbation and as yet has no proven benefit,” he said.

The report suggest ways in which badger vaccination could be made cheaper, such as the removal of the Certificate of Competence costs and also recommends a free bTB vaccine advisory service is set up.

However, the BVA said the wildlife trust was giving a misleading impression of the benefits of vaccination.

BVA president Carl Padgett welcomed the initiative to investigate the deployment of the badger vaccine.

“But this work must not be confused with an investigation into the effectiveness of the badger vaccine in reducing or eradicating bovine TB,” he said.

“To conclude from this report that the badger vaccine is a viable alternative to culling in eradicating TB is unrealistic at best and spin at worst.

“The fact remains that the vaccine has no protective effect on infected badgers and we know that at least 30-40 per cent of badgers within an area will be infected. Many young badgers will be infected before they can be trapped and injected.

He said much more will be learnt from Defra’s Badger Vaccine Deployment Project which is looking at a much larger area of 100 sq km.

“Vaccination of badgers certainly has a role to play in an effective TB eradication programme but it is only one tool in the toolbox,” he said.

http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/latest-news/vets-dismiss-unrealistic-spin-on-badger-vaccination/42286.article

First UK badger vaccination trial results published

Vaccinating badgers against bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an affordable and viable alternative to culling according to a new report published today, by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

The Badger Vaccination Deployment Programme, which took place this summer, was the first of its kind in the UK undertaken by a private organisation. Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust ran the programme at seven of its nature reserves, including a dairy farm; an area totalling 170 hectares.
The report outlines the full costs involved in the trial and demonstrates that if groups of land owners join together to vaccinate badgers against bTB, it would become affordable with no associated negative impact. Culling, as its most vocal supporters admit, may increase bTB in neighbouring herds through perturbation and as yet no proven benefit.

“We are delighted with the results. The report provides proof that there is an affordable alternative to the proposed cull” Said Dr. Gordon McGlone OBE, Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust.

“Bovine TB is a big problem but local culling of one of our much-loved native animals is not the answer. Scientists have spent that last 12 years investigating whether killing badgers will halt this serious disease in cattle and the answer they are getting is that it could well make the problem worse.”

The report suggest ways in which badger vaccination could be made cheaper, such as the removal of the Certificate of Competence costs and also recommends a free bTB vaccine advisory service is set up.

Costing only £51 per hectare, The Trust wants the Government and landowners to take badger vaccination seriously as a viable alternative to the proposed cull.

For press enquiries call Emma Bradshaw on 01452 383333 (9-3 Mon- Thurs) or mobile 07740 922193.

Notes…
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust is a county-wide charity which manages 60 nature reserves covering over 2,000 acres, in addition to identifying key sites of nature importance. Its aim is to secure a natural environment which the people of Gloucestershire and visitors to the area can enjoy for generations to come. It has a local membership of more than 25,000 people and works with 450 regular volunteers who give their time to support the Trust’s work. Further information can be found at www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk.
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2011/10/12/first-uk-badger-vaccination-trial-results-published

Government backs cull of badgers

The Government has announced controversial plans to introduce a major badger cull in England to tackle TB in cattle.


The RSPCA said it was a "black day for badgers", claiming the scientific case to support the mass slaughter of the animals had not been made.

Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman acknowledged there was "great strength of feeling" about the issue but told the Commons: "I believe this is the right way forward." More consultation will be carried out before any mass cull is allowed but the Government plans to carry out a pilot in two areas.

The Secretary of State said badger control licences would be issued by Natural England under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 to enable groups of farmers and landowners to reduce badger populations at their own expense.

If controlled shooting was found to be effective and humane, the policy could be introduced throughout England. Scotland and Wales set their own policy as disease control is a devolved issue.

Mrs Spelman hoped that her announcement would send a clear message to the farming industry, saying: "If culling is ultimately authorised, we will look to the farmers involved to show that they take their responsibility very seriously, and that they are committed to delivering culling effectively and humanely."

David Bowles, director of communications for the RSPCA, said: "This is a black day for badgers - a day we have been dreading. At a time when the Welsh Government has stepped back from a cull, the Government in England is slowly shredding its own animal welfare credentials."

The RSPCA said vaccination of badgers, increased levels of testing, improved biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle were more effective ways of eradicating bovine TB in cattle for good.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said nearly 25,000 cattle were slaughtered in England last year because of bovine TB, which cost the country £90 million.

The problem is particularly bad in west and south-west England, where 23% of cattle farms were unable to move stock off their premises at some point in 2010 due to being affected by the disease.
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/badger-cull-combat-bovine-tb-030634161.html

Last chance to protest against badger cull

Chris Packham joins the RSPCA in urging action

July 2011: The RSPCA is urging action before an imminent decision about a badger cull in England. It is believed that the government will announce plans to license the shooting of badgers in the next couple of weeks.

The society is firmly opposed to any plans for a widespread cull, and believes now maybe the last chance for those who agree to voice their views.

Springwatch presenter Chris Packham, who recently became an RSPCA Vice President, has added his voice to this campaign, saying that now might be the last chance for people to tell the government what they think.

Severe welfare implications
As part of a consultation last year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) put forward a proposal for a badger cull in parts of England as part of a package of measures to control bovine TB in cattle.

The plans, which could mean the eradication of 70 per cent of the badger population in large parts of the country, involved farmers and landowners being licensed to carry out and fund the cull themselves through a variety of methods including free-shooting.

The RSPCA is firmly opposed to proposals for a cull and has long battled against various proposals put forward, and previously dismissed, by different governments. It thinks these plans would be unlikely to work and could have severe welfare implications.

Quintessential part of our English countryside
The society is asking those who support this campaign to write to their MP as a matter of urgency and ask them to pass on a message to the Prime Minister to let him know how they feel.

‘A decision about whether badgers are to be culled is due imminently. There is no time to waste, now is the time for anyone who feels as strongly as I do on this subject to act,' says wildlife expert and life-long badger fan Chris Packham.

‘Badgers are fascinating creatures which I consider to be an quintessential part of our English countryside. Added to this their death would most likely be in vain as scientific studies suggest that culling them could increase the risk of transmission of bovine TB in cattle rather than reduce it.

‘I wholeheartedly support the RSPCA's opposition to this proposed badger cull. If you do too, please do all that you can to let the government know how you feel.'

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/badger-cull282.html#cr

No cull of badgers in Wales during scientific review

Controversial plans for a badger cull in west Wales have been put on hold while a review is carried out. The Labour-run Welsh Government says an independent panel of experts will examine the science involved.

The cull had been part of an attempt by the previous Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition government to combat bovine TB. But Environment Minister John Griffiths said there would be no cull while the panel carried out its work.

The Labour-Plaid coalition had planned the cull alongside other measures to control TB in cattle in an area of north Pembrokeshire - the so-called Intensive Action Area.

Read on...

Badger vaccine pilot planned by National Trust in Devon

20 April 2011
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News

The National Trust is to vaccinate badgers against TB this summer in a bid to curb the disease in cattle - the first UK landowner to do so.

The trust hopes its £320,000, four-year project on Devon's Killerton estate will make the case for vaccination as an alternative to culling.

Cattle (or bovine) tuberculosis costs the UK about £100m each year.

The government is set to approve badger culling in England soon, and the Welsh Assembly Government also plans a cull.

Research published last year showed the vaccine lowers infection in badgers.

Some cattle herds contract TB through contact with badgers, which carry the bacterium, although infection from other cattle is more significant.

Badger culling is a controversial option and although the trust is not opposed to it in principle, it is troubled by research showing it could do more harm than good - hence the vaccination scheme.

"This is a pilot project - it's not research, not a trial - we know the vaccine works, and we're going for it," said David Bullock, the trust's head of nature conservation.

"The driver is that we want to reduce the risk of bovine TB breakdowns in cattle herds belonging to our tenant farmers, 18 of whom are involved in this project - and we also want to see that the vaccine is considered nationwide."

Last December, scientists with the government-owned Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) published the results of a four-year field trial using an injectable TB vaccine.

It showed that vaccination reduced the incidence of TB in badgers by 74%, but did not look for any impact on infection levels in cattle.

The Labour government had planned five subsequent pilot vaccination projects, but the coalition reduced that to one, and Killerton was among the sites axed.

So at a cost of £80,000 per year, the National Trust is picking up the project, making use of the fact that some of the preliminary research (such as mapping out badger setts) has already been done.

Across about 20 sq km (8 sq miles) of the site, badgers will be lured into cages with bait and trapped.

Trained and licensed Fera staff will then deliver a dose of vaccine and release the badger, first marking it so it does not subsequently receive a second shot.

Dozens of setts have been identified, and the trust believes many hundreds of badgers will be vaccinated.

Promises made

The Conservative Party made badger culling a plank of their general election campaign last year.

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has demanded it for a long time and after the election Agriculture Minister Jim Paice - a farmer himself - announced a public consultation into how it should be implemented in England.

While supporting the trust's decision to carry out the pilot programme, the NFU said vaccines formed part of the long-term solution but did not address the "desperate plight" that many farmers currently found themselves in.

"Current vaccination methods of injecting badgers is costly, and practically challenging with the benefits remaining unclear, and unproven," Melanie Hall, the NFU's regional director for South-West England told BBC News.

"As the vaccine is preventative, [it is] unlikely to impact positively on infected badgers."

Nationwide, nearly 35,000 cattle were slaughtered last year and there is no vaccine yet that can be used in cattle.

The government believes a cull would reduce disease incidence in cattle by 16% over nine years.

A spokesman for the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affair (Defra) welcomed the National Trust's plans to run a vaccine pilot project.

He added: "There's no one solution to tackling TB, and the badger vaccine we developed is one of the tools we have available.

"We will be announcing a comprehensive and balanced TB Eradication Programme for England as soon as possible."

Ministers were expected to publish their plans to deal with bovine TB in the national herd in February; but amid turmoil over the disposal of nationally-owned forests, the announcement was postponed, and is now expected next month.

Meanwhile, the Welsh Assembly Government has announced new plans for a pilot cull in Pembrokeshire this year, after a legal ruling derailed similar plans last year.

Animal rights campaigners are to challenge the new plans in the courts.

Scientific cloud

Behind the issue lie conflicting interpretations of scientific evidence on the effectiveness of culling.

The Westminster and Cardiff governments and the NFU argue that culling can markedly reduce bovine TB incidence in cattle.

But the major UK investigation, the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (also called the Krebs trial), showed culling only produced a benefit if conducted rigorously and systematically over large areas, ideally with hard boundaries that badgers could not cross.

Otherwise, the social structure of badger groups broke down when some were killed, and the animals ranged further afield - infecting more cattle and leading to increased TB incidence.

"We're not against culling badgers if it's going to be effective in curbing bovine TB, but you can't apply the criteria everywhere that would make it effective," Mr Bullock told BBC News.

"Unless you have boundaries, you may have this effect where badgers move around and spread TB - we know from the science that this does happen."

Scientists who ran the Krebs trial have warned the government that its plan to allow shooting of badgers as they roam was likely to be less effective than the trap-and-shoot method deployed during the trial.

On that basis, they said, culling "risks increasing rather than reducing the incidence of cattle TB".

In the Irish Republic, culling has been practised for many years and does appear to have curbed bovine TB; but scientists involved with that programme say the disease will not be eradicated without vaccination.

The National Trust argues that vaccination could prove to be a more effective option than culling, in conjunction with tightened regulations designed to prevent cattle-to-cattle transmission.

This would also, of course, avoid killing badgers, which are a protected species under UK and EU laws.

Eventually, the aim is to have an oral vaccine that badgers would simply eat, avoiding any need for trapping; but that is thought to be five years away.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13121520
(Via Dawn Holloway)

Badger vaccine partial success – But culling still recommended

Badger vaccine and culling

December 2010. Control of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle has proven particularly challenging where reservoirs of infection exist in wildlife populations. In Britain and Ireland, control is hampered by a reservoir of infection in Eurasian badgers.

Badger culling
Badger culling has positive and negative effects on bovine TB in cattle and is difficult, costly and controversial. A new study, published in the Royal Society's scientific journal Proceedings, shows that Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination of captive badgers reduced the progression, severity and excretion of Mycobacterium bovis infection after experimental challenge.

Reduced infection levels
In a clinical field study, BCG vaccination of free-living badgers reduced the incidence of positive serological test results by 73.8 per cent. In common with other species, BCG did not appear to prevent infection of badgers subjected to experimental challenge, but did significantly reduce the overall disease burden. BCG vaccination of badgers could comprise an important component of a comprehensive programme of measures to control bovine TB in cattle.

First badger vaccine licensed
Defra has made public supporting data behind the successful licensing of the first tuberculosis vaccine for badgers (Badger BCG), which was licensed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The studies were carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera).

74% reduction in infection
A key finding of the field study, conducted over four years in a naturally infected population of more than 800 wild badgers in Gloucestershire, was that vaccination resulted in a 74 per cent reduction in the proportion of wild badgers testing positive to the antibody blood test for TB in badgers.

The blood test is not an absolute indicator of protection from disease, so the field results cannot tell us the degree of vaccine efficacy. While the findings indicate a clear effect of vaccination on badger disease, data from the laboratory and field studies do not lend themselves to giving a definitive figure for BadgerBCG vaccine efficacy. Nor do they provide information on the effect of badger vaccination in reducing TB incidence in cattle.


Professor Glyn Hewinson, Head of the TB Research Group at the VLA, and Professor Robbie McDonald, Head of the Wildlife and Emerging Diseases Programme at Fera, said: "VLA and Fera are very proud to have conducted the programme of work on BadgerBCG and that a vaccine is now available for use in the field as one of the tools for tackling bovine TB. In making the data available today, we hope that people will be able to see for themselves the detailed research that went into the development of the vaccine and understand the opportunities and challenges of using vaccination."

Positive result?
Defra has also published the results of new computer modelling by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), which has examined different strategies for controlling TB in badgers, including both culling and vaccination.

The results of the modelling were consistent with the conclusions of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial indicating that there were both positive and negative effects of culling. The modelling shows that badger vaccination could make a positive contribution to disease control in its own right and was consistently positive when used in combination with culling in a ring vaccination strategy. Wildlife Extra questions what measure has been used for ‘positive'? Has this been taken measured from the point of view of farmers or wildlife?

The results of the modelling were:

A combined strategy of vaccination in a ring around a culling area was more successful than the cull-only strategy, which in turn was more successful than the vaccination-only strategy, both in reducing the number of TB infected badgers and cattle herd breakdowns. Ring vaccination partly mitigated the detrimental effects of culling. However, the combined strategy requires about twice as much effort than either single approach done in isolation

Culling of badgers should continue for at least four years to realise a clear benefit. However, low rates of land access for culling, or low culling efficiency, or the early cessation of a culling strategy was likely to lead to an overall increase in cattle herd breakdowns (whilst this is not the case for vaccination).

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/badger-vaccine.html

Badger vaccine partial success – But culling still recommended

Badger vaccine and culling

December 2010. Control of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle has proven particularly challenging where reservoirs of infection exist in wildlife populations. In Britain and Ireland, control is hampered by a reservoir of infection in Eurasian badgers.

Badger culling
Badger culling has positive and negative effects on bovine TB in cattle and is difficult, costly and controversial. A new study, published in the Royal Society's scientific journal Proceedings, shows that Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination of captive badgers reduced the progression, severity and excretion of Mycobacterium bovis infection after experimental challenge.

Reduced infection levels
In a clinical field study, BCG vaccination of free-living badgers reduced the incidence of positive serological test results by 73.8 per cent. In common with other species, BCG did not appear to prevent infection of badgers subjected to experimental challenge, but did significantly reduce the overall disease burden. BCG vaccination of badgers could comprise an important component of a comprehensive programme of measures to control bovine TB in cattle.

First badger vaccine licensed
Defra has made public supporting data behind the successful licensing of the first tuberculosis vaccine for badgers (Badger BCG), which was licensed by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate. The studies were carried out by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera).

74% reduction in infection
A key finding of the field study, conducted over four years in a naturally infected population of more than 800 wild badgers in Gloucestershire, was that vaccination resulted in a 74 per cent reduction in the proportion of wild badgers testing positive to the antibody blood test for TB in badgers.

The blood test is not an absolute indicator of protection from disease, so the field results cannot tell us the degree of vaccine efficacy. While the findings indicate a clear effect of vaccination on badger disease, data from the laboratory and field studies do not lend themselves to giving a definitive figure for BadgerBCG vaccine efficacy. Nor do they provide information on the effect of badger vaccination in reducing TB incidence in cattle.


Professor Glyn Hewinson, Head of the TB Research Group at the VLA, and Professor Robbie McDonald, Head of the Wildlife and Emerging Diseases Programme at Fera, said: "VLA and Fera are very proud to have conducted the programme of work on BadgerBCG and that a vaccine is now available for use in the field as one of the tools for tackling bovine TB. In making the data available today, we hope that people will be able to see for themselves the detailed research that went into the development of the vaccine and understand the opportunities and challenges of using vaccination."

Positive result?
Defra has also published the results of new computer modelling by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera), which has examined different strategies for controlling TB in badgers, including both culling and vaccination.

The results of the modelling were consistent with the conclusions of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial indicating that there were both positive and negative effects of culling. The modelling shows that badger vaccination could make a positive contribution to disease control in its own right and was consistently positive when used in combination with culling in a ring vaccination strategy. Wildlife Extra questions what measure has been used for ‘positive'? Has this been taken measured from the point of view of farmers or wildlife?

The results of the modelling were:

A combined strategy of vaccination in a ring around a culling area was more successful than the cull-only strategy, which in turn was more successful than the vaccination-only strategy, both in reducing the number of TB infected badgers and cattle herd breakdowns. Ring vaccination partly mitigated the detrimental effects of culling. However, the combined strategy requires about twice as much effort than either single approach done in isolation

Culling of badgers should continue for at least four years to realise a clear benefit. However, low rates of land access for culling, or low culling efficiency, or the early cessation of a culling strategy was likely to lead to an overall increase in cattle herd breakdowns (whilst this is not the case for vaccination).

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/badger-vaccine.html

Badger cull plans are inhumane and unscientific, says RSPCA

May make problems of bovine TB worse not better

November 2010: The RSPCA has hit out the latest Government plans for a badger cull in parts of England, describing them as ‘appalling'. The animal welfare charity believes that not only are the measures unlikely to work, they may exacerbate the very problem it is meant to stop - bovine TB. Concerned about a number of welfare issues, the RSPCA has sent a list of questions to ministers to highlight the issues at stake.

Proposals put forward last month could mean the eradication of 70 per cent of the badger population from large areas of the country, yet animal welfare scientists say they could lead to a spread of bovine TB in cattle rather than a reduction.


There are also serious concerns that licensing farmers and/or landowners to free-shoot the animals as suggested would be inhumane and near impossible to monitor.

Public given chance to have their say
A public consultation into whether a badger cull in parts of England should make up a package of measures to control bovine TB in cattle was announced by Defra in mid September. People have been given until December 8 to express their views to the Government.

So far nearly 13,500 people have signed the RSPCA's petition to oppose this cull, and a further 6,214 have written to their MP to express their views.

An RSPCA spokesman said: ‘The society is deeply concerned about the proposals and believes they are based on inconsistent evidence. We have therefore sent Defra a list of 38 questions to clarify the detail behind its plans.

‘The RSPCA fears that the use of free-shooting would cause serious welfare issues. Badgers' anatomy and behaviour makes them harder to shoot in an accurate, humane way than other animals such as foxes, so the risk of wounding instead of killing them, and causing a painful, slow death, is high.'

Cull would be over a large area - and would target at least 70 per cent of animals there

The spokesman added: ‘Defra also says that a cull would have to cover a large area - at least 150km² - and would need to simultaneously target at least 70 per cent of the animals there.

‘However, scientific evidence has shown that culling might actually increase the risks of spreading the disease over a wider area - a process called perturbation. Scientists said that a poorly conducted cull could increase these risks even further.'

Senior RSPCA wildlife scientist Colin Booty said: ‘The details of how the Government proposes to go about this cull are even worse than we imagined. They are relying on so many "ifs" and making assumptions which are not based on evidence.'

Untested method could cause great suffering
‘Defra wants to use an untested method - free shooting, via untested means, licensed farmers - which involves serious risks and could cause great suffering. Large numbers of badgers could be wiped out, many of them healthy, and it is doubtful whether there would be much reduction in bovine TB in cattle as a result.'

The RSPCA agrees that there is a problem with bovine TB but believes a recently-approved TB vaccine for badgers combined with an increased level of cattle testing, improved biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle, are more sustainable and effective ways of reducing the disease among cattle.

The previous government ruled out a cull in 2008 on the basis of science and the responses to its consultation that revealed a record 95 per cent of respondents were opposed to a cull.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/badger-cull.html

Badger cull plans are inhumane and unscientific, says RSPCA

May make problems of bovine TB worse not better

November 2010: The RSPCA has hit out the latest Government plans for a badger cull in parts of England, describing them as ‘appalling'. The animal welfare charity believes that not only are the measures unlikely to work, they may exacerbate the very problem it is meant to stop - bovine TB. Concerned about a number of welfare issues, the RSPCA has sent a list of questions to ministers to highlight the issues at stake.

Proposals put forward last month could mean the eradication of 70 per cent of the badger population from large areas of the country, yet animal welfare scientists say they could lead to a spread of bovine TB in cattle rather than a reduction.


There are also serious concerns that licensing farmers and/or landowners to free-shoot the animals as suggested would be inhumane and near impossible to monitor.

Public given chance to have their say
A public consultation into whether a badger cull in parts of England should make up a package of measures to control bovine TB in cattle was announced by Defra in mid September. People have been given until December 8 to express their views to the Government.

So far nearly 13,500 people have signed the RSPCA's petition to oppose this cull, and a further 6,214 have written to their MP to express their views.

An RSPCA spokesman said: ‘The society is deeply concerned about the proposals and believes they are based on inconsistent evidence. We have therefore sent Defra a list of 38 questions to clarify the detail behind its plans.

‘The RSPCA fears that the use of free-shooting would cause serious welfare issues. Badgers' anatomy and behaviour makes them harder to shoot in an accurate, humane way than other animals such as foxes, so the risk of wounding instead of killing them, and causing a painful, slow death, is high.'

Cull would be over a large area - and would target at least 70 per cent of animals there

The spokesman added: ‘Defra also says that a cull would have to cover a large area - at least 150km² - and would need to simultaneously target at least 70 per cent of the animals there.

‘However, scientific evidence has shown that culling might actually increase the risks of spreading the disease over a wider area - a process called perturbation. Scientists said that a poorly conducted cull could increase these risks even further.'

Senior RSPCA wildlife scientist Colin Booty said: ‘The details of how the Government proposes to go about this cull are even worse than we imagined. They are relying on so many "ifs" and making assumptions which are not based on evidence.'

Untested method could cause great suffering
‘Defra wants to use an untested method - free shooting, via untested means, licensed farmers - which involves serious risks and could cause great suffering. Large numbers of badgers could be wiped out, many of them healthy, and it is doubtful whether there would be much reduction in bovine TB in cattle as a result.'

The RSPCA agrees that there is a problem with bovine TB but believes a recently-approved TB vaccine for badgers combined with an increased level of cattle testing, improved biosecurity and stricter controls on the movement of cattle, are more sustainable and effective ways of reducing the disease among cattle.

The previous government ruled out a cull in 2008 on the basis of science and the responses to its consultation that revealed a record 95 per cent of respondents were opposed to a cull.

http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/badger-cull.html