A group of scientists, led by UK chief scientist Professor Bob Watson and chief vet Nigel Gibbens, have given their support to the cull lobby, less than two weeks after the Welsh Government announced it would suspend plans for a badger cull pending scientific review.

The scientists’ opinions were published yesterday in advance of a Westminster Government decision over whether to allow a badger cull to take place in England. The Defra scientists said evidence showed “co-ordinated, sustained and simultaneous” culling could result in a net reduction of around 16% in the number of cattle herds hit by bTB. However, a judge last year ruled that the projected reduction in bTB incidences (6% posited by the Welsh Assembly Government) did not justify such a draconian measure, as badgers are a protected species.

In Wales, Environment Minister John Griffiths faced down criticism from farmers and vets for his decision to halt the cull pending a peer review of the science behind it. Speaking at the British Veterinary Association’s annual Welsh dinner, held in Cardiff, Mr Griffiths stuck to his guns over the issue.

He stressed the need for farmers to observe strict biosecurity measures in place within the 111-square mile Intensive Action Area, which covers parts of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and where a trial cull was proposed by the previous government.

Mr Griffiths proclaimed, “I know there are very strong views around this issue on both sides of the equation in terms of farming and the wildlife aspects, but we are very keen during the period of the review to make sure that the cattle biosecurity measures remain in place. These are very important aspects in tackling bovine TB and we will have a very close watching brief during the review and onwards to make sure these measures are observed.”

Badger Trust welcomes Griffiths’ reprieve

The Badger Trust welcomed the Welsh Government’s decision to review, stating that the “evidence and reasoning” behind the previous government’s support for a cull was legally flawed and would have been quashed in the High Court, as it was by the Appeal Court last summer. Defra figures released in November last year revealed that culling alone would prove less effective than vaccination in halting bTB incidences in a control area.

Jack Reedy, spokesperson for the Badger Trust, said, “Although the Badger Trust remains determined to take whatever legal steps are required to safeguard this protected species against unjustified slaughter, the trust now hopes that the proposed judicial review challenge can be avoided.”

Ear tag switching damaging farmers’ case

Campaign groups have this week demanded that moves towards badger culling in England and Wales be abandoned until the cattle sector has addressed recent tag-switching “scandals,” after a Welsh farmer received a 12 month suspended sentence for six offences last week.

The Badger Trust has claimed it the problem of tag-switching to avoid bTB controls is much more commonplace than is claimed, as an investigation by Gloucestershire Trading Standards earlier in the year exposed switched ear tags in cattle sent to two slaughterhouses.

Since that time, more cases have emerged, said Badger Trust Vice-Chair Jack Reedy, who claimed “Five counties in the Midlands and the South West of England and now Powys are implicated.”

He continued, “Bovine TB will continue to be difficult to eradicate without universal annual testing and tighter movement controls, despite the economic consequences. Killing badgers is not an alternative.”

The National Farmers Union has condemned tag-switching, which it claims is “completely at odds with the industry’s determination to stamp out bovine TB.” NFU president Peter Kendall said, “I am really struggling to understand why farmers would undertake the sorts of activities being highlighted.”