The fact that both cattle and badgers carry TB is well-known. Everyone is concerned about the loss of cattle that TB causes, and the effects this has on the farming community, and if anything could be done to reduce this awful disease, we would all be pleased. But before an action like badger culling takes place, there needs to be proper scientific evidence that it would be effective. The Randomised Controlled Badger Cull cost £50m, took 10 years and killed 11000 animals; it concluded that culling may reduce TB in cattle by 15%. So 85% of the problem would remain, and huge numbers of badgers killed. The scientists who did the trial conclude that a cull would be a mistake. Surely we should abide by the scientific evidence? Culling could even make the situation worse, as animals that are shot at and escape are likely to move to other areas, thereby spreading the disease further. Farmers randomly shooting at free-running badgers is clearly less organised and methodical than the scientifically controlled cull, making results likely to be even more poor.
Why is the government going against scientific advice? How will the Government ensure the safety of the public and their animals taking an evening stroll? Why has the results of the Government Poll of the public not been published?
We need to look at more effective and scientific methods of controlling TB such as vaccination of both cattle and badgers.
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