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FUW response to WAG badger cull consultation

23 October 2010

The Farmers Union of Wales has published their 'guidance' notes - their pro-cull point of view - to respond to the Welsh Assembly Government Badger Cull consultation:

(The following DOES NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF SAVE-ME.org.uk)

http://www.fuw.org.uk/BadgerCullConsultation.html

RESPOND TO THE WAG BADGER CULL CONSULTATION

The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a consultation on culling badgers in north Pembrokeshire in order to control bovine TB. Details of the consultation can be read by clicking here. 

You can respond to the consultation on the Welsh Assembly Government's website by clicking here.  

Alternatively, you can enter your details and send the Welsh Assembly Government the below pre-prepared response in support of the proposals.

Full Name*
House name/number*
Postcode*
I would prefer my response to be kept confidential* Yes No

1. Do you object to the culling of any wildlife for the purposes of controlling disease in farm animals?

NO

COMMENT: Culling wildlife in order to control disease incidences is carried out routinely worldwide and has been an important tool for doing so for many years. Since the 1970s, culling wildlife and feral animals has been shown to be an effective method of controlling bTB in cattle in the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and other areas of the world. Controlling bTB reservoirs in wildlife is also a requirement under the relevant EC Directive relating to the control of bTB  

2. In view of the fact that a licence for an injectable vaccine for badgers is now available, do you think that vaccination of badgers in bovine TB endemic areas is a viable alternative to culling to prevent disease transmission? 

NO

COMMENT: The Independent Scientific Group stated that "a vaccine for badgers would need to be delivered by the oral route, in the form of a bait, in order to be practical and economically viable." Injecting badgers and releasing them is likely to be more costly and less effective than culling, as the number of animals trapped will not decrease over time, and animals already infected with bTB will be vaccinated, possibly repeatedly, with no positive effect.  

3. Do you believe that culling badgers can achieve a reduction in bovine TB incidence in cattle, to justify its use?

YES 

COMMENT: It is categorically true that culling badgers can achieve a reduction in bTB incidences, and this has been confirmed in numerous scientific papers following badger culling in Ireland and the UK. Those who believe that badger culling does not reduce bTB incidences in cattle are, by definition, wrong in holding such a belief.

4. Do you agree that the Intensive Action Area has a high incidence of bovine TB in cattle    which needs to be dealt with? 

YES

COMMENT: The Intensive Action Area has one of the highest rates of bTB in the northern hemisphere, and this needs to be dealt with in order to minimise the risk to other mammals, including humans, both for disease control reasons, and in order to comply with EC law.  

5. Do you believe that access to land for culling badgers should be enforced? 

YES 

COMMENT: Obstructions by landowners and individuals during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial had a significant adverse impact on the results of those trials. Minimising such disruption by specifically making such actions illegal will therefore increase the positive benefits of badger culling.  

6. On balance, do you think the benefits of culling outweigh the harm caused to the badger population in the Intensive Action Area? Please give reasons for your answer. 

YES 

COMMENT: The badger population is in no way endangered, as confirmed in the Krebs report more than a decade ago, and, viewed objectively, there is no difference between culling badgers and culling deer, foxes, or any other mammal, as occurs routinely throughout the UK for a variety of reasons. It is unlikely that all badgers in the area will be culled, and the main impact, in addition to reducing bTB incidences, is likely to be positive in terms of other species, given that there is significant evidence indicating that the escalation in badger numbers has had an adverse impact on other animals due to predation, many of which are endangered.

7. Do you agree with the prohibitions under the draft Badger (Control Area) (Wales) Order 2010

YES 

COMMENT: Obstructions by landowners and individuals during the RBCT had a significant adverse impact on the results of the trials. Minimising such disruption by specifically making such actions illegal will therefore increase the positive benefits of badger culling.

 

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