The very latest report from Jenkins et al on the effectiveness of Badger Culling

Posted 22 July

This peer-reviewed paper - the latest follow-up to the ISG report - was posted 22nd July.

http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0009090

Here is an extract from their conclusions.

"Our findings have important implications for the development of cattle TB control policies throughout the British Isles. They show that, although widespread badger culling can achieve overall reductions in the incidence of cattle TB, these benefits are not sustained in the long term once culling is halted. Moreover, the financial costs of conducting the culling substantially exceed the overall benefits accrued. In the absence of other practicable culling methods likely to yield greater benefits, our findings indicate that, on the basis of cost-effectiveness, badger culling is unlikely to contribute to the control of cattle TB in Britain".

The scientific evidence really does not change very much, as time goes on.  Moreover, the Government has now cast doubts as to whether they will be willing to invest the huge sums necessary to intigate a cull, and farmers may be looking at funding it largely themselves.  So, since this report indicates that culling is extremely unlikely even to break even in terms of cost-effectiveness, the NFU may lose some of their enthusiasm for this course of action. 

Brian

Thank You

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A new outbreak of Bovine TB - in Scotland

Save-Me sends condolences to the farmers so badly affected by the new outbreak of bovine TB in Scotland.

Scotland has, until now, been substantially free of the disease, so this is a shock in more ways than one.  This article in the Farmers Guardian gives more details.  

Sixty cattle slaughtered after bovine TB outbreak in Scotland
Farmers Guardian
SIXTY cattle from a fully closed dairy herd have been compulsory slaughtered following one of the worst outbreaks of bovine TB in Scotland for several years ...

It is very significant that in this case it's impossible to argue that badgers or other wild animals can be to blame for the outbreak, and from the point of view of those arguing, as we are, that the proposed British badger cull is tragically misguided, this provides concrete evidence that TB is still being spread in ways other than the much vaunted 'Wildlife Reservoir of Infection".  And that even if every badger in these islands were to be killed, cows would still be getting sick.  

This sentence at the end of the Farmers Guardian report says it all.  

 “The absence of repeated reinfections within single herds, or clusters of disease caused by the same strain of TB, are indicators that a wildlife reservoir is not driving infection.”

Mr David Cameron, Mr Peter Kendall, Ms Caroline Spelman, and Mr Jim Paice, please take note, and ask yourselves if you can still sleep peacefully in your beds.  Your 'pilot' cull of badgers must be shelved.  

Brian 

THE GRAND NATIONAL

Traditionally known as the 'Sport of Kings' the Grand National is now clearly an embarrassment to a nation that prides itself on fair treatment of animals.

This is another example of 'tradition' being used to justify behaviour which is no longer acceptable.  In this gruelling four and a half mile course, over the last 12 years, 20 horses have died on the day, and many more in the first week after the race.  

One might imagine that after the worldwide success of the play and film "War Horse", that it would now be apparent to everyone that these wonderful creatures have feelings and are worthy of respect.  But in this 'sport', horses are treated as a commodity.

Around 18,000 are bred into the ever-decreasing gene pool of the racing industry each year and evidence shows around 5000 are raced to death.  Just over 7000 make the grade; the rest are destroyed or cast aside, many ending up in degrading horse markets, on their way to being used as food.  During the actual races, the horses who have survived the system are openly beaten for human pleasure.  As soon as they stop being money-earners, they are discarded - many destroyed on the spot.  

Surely in 2012 this kind of treatment is utterly unacceptable.  The industry has become a cruel factory farm for human financial profit.  

It is time for Britain to stand up, set an example of decency to the world - and consign this barbaric sport to history.   

Brian May CBE.