Government consultation on an end to controversial badger cull
NEARLY 3,000 badgers were killed in Derbyshire last year as part of a nationwide cull, figures have revealed.
Government data shows that a total of 2,916 badgers were killed in the county in 2020 as part of attempts to eradicate Bovine Tuberculosis, which the animals can pass onto cattle.
The disease has led to thousands of cattle being slaughtered, and in an effort to stop its spread the Government authorised culling of badgers, to the fury of campaigners who say the animals should be vaccinated instead of killed.
However, farming unions say the cull is working and claimed that in four years of culling, TB rates in areas where it has taken place have reduced by 51 per cent.
On Wednesday, January 27, the Government announced a consultation on plans to phase out the badger cull, with no new licences allowing for it to take place to be issued after 2022, potentially leading to the cull ending.
Derbyshire Wildlife Trust says it believes the proposals do not go far enough, and says it wants the Government to “urgently” move away from “lethal to non-lethal methods of managing Bovine TB”.
It says because licences take four years to complete, this means it could be 2026 until the cull is completely stopped.
Jo Smith, CEO of the trust, said: “We are delighted that the Government has committed to ending the badger cull.
“However we are concerned at the slow pace of change and we feel the cull must be phased out much more quickly and replaced with vaccination as a matter of urgency.”
However, the National Farmers Union says it feels the cull has worked well and is doing what it is supposed to do.
NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said: “Bovine TB continues to devastate farming families up and down the country, causing huge strain mentally, emotionally and financially for farmers.
“Thousands of farms have seen generations of cattle slaughtered because of the disease, crippling their livelihoods instantly.
“The government’s 25year TB eradication strategy has provided some real hope to those farmers and it is clearly delivering successful results. The badger cull has played an enormous role in that.
“The government’s own consultation says that incidents of TB in cull areas have dropped by 51 per cent after four years.
“This clearly shows that, in line with the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, the badger culls are working and that it is essential to keep our focus on eradicating this dreadful disease and using every tool in the box to do so.
“A science and evidencebased approach must continue to drive government’s approach to TB eradication in cattle, at this critical time we cannot have eight years of progress undermined. “Right now, the government should be particularly aware of the consequences of taking its foot off the gas when it comes to controlling a disease.”
He added it was “heartening” to hear field trials of a cattle vaccine are taking place. “The Covid-19 vaccine has shone a light on the incredible scientific capability in this country to deal with a zoonotic disease and farmers will be hoping that a fully authorised cattle vaccine can soon become another vital tool in eradicating this dreadful disease,” he said.
“Farmers would like to use all effective measures to control this disease but as we know, there is not one single solution and our sole aim is to eradicate TB.
“But if the government wants to phase out one successful measure, it must be 100% satisfied that any changes to replace it with an alternative must be proven to be equally effective.
“Make no mistake, TB continues to devastate farming businesses and their families. More than 27,000 cattle were slaughtered last year as a result of this disease.
“I am certain that the consequences of these proposals will have severe impacts on the lives of farming families all across the country.”
More than 27,000 cattle were slaughtered last year as a result of this disease Stuart Roberts, NFU deputy president