NBA’s Welsh members anticipate eventual go-ahead for badger culling

NBA’s Welsh members anticipate eventual go-ahead for badger culling sometime this autumn – and wants the Welsh Assembly Government to be ready for a determined campaign against all sources of TB infection.

The National Beef Association would like the Welsh Assembly Government to use time taken by the panel, which will review the science that justifies badger reduction in bTB blighted areas – to establish the strategic, and management, frameworks that will allow it to quickly launch a much needed, and effective, multi-fronted, attack on the disease basis immediately the green light is given for action against badgers sometime this autumn.

It would also like environment minister, John Griffiths, to accept that his credibility, and the reputation of his department for impartial decision making, will be critically undermined if prominent scientists, that have assisted the Badger Trust with its legal case against culling, are appointed to the review panel.

The NBA’s Welsh members are adamant that the review panel appointed by chief scientist, John Harres, must be seen to be open-minded and objective.

But they are just as keen to see the Welsh Assembly Government take advantage of the lull created by the review to construct a pro-active, anti-TB campaign, that will attack the disease on all fronts, and be aimed at all sources, as soon as the all-clear for the badger related section of the offensive is confirmed

The Association’s Welsh members are confident that the scientific panel will find in favour of controlled badger removal and that this result should be anticipated so there are no delays when the go-ahead is given.

They are aware of new analysis published by scientists only this April which clearly shows that the benefits of badger culling, through a 31.5 per cent reduction in TB incidence in nearby cattle,  is sustained in a culled area for at least four and a half years after culling ceases.

Breaking the chain of infection that inextricably links badgers with cattle, and cattle with badgers – and covers other farmed, and non-farming species as well - is a priority for Welsh farmers and they want it to become a priority for the Welsh Government as well.

They know controls against curbing spread between cattle are not enough on their own to prevent TB spreading and want their government to plan an all out attack on the disease later this year that will so cover all its sources and all affected species, in order to ensure the successful eradication of this horrendous disease is undertaken as soon as possible.

For more information contact:

Kim Haywood, NBA director.  Tel. 0131 336 1754/07967 698936

Iwan Parry, NBA Wales’s member of the AHWSSG. Tel: 01341 422212

(AHWSSG – Animal Health and Welfare Strategy Steering Group)