Minister confirms badger cull

[manrow]

Jim Paice has confirmed that badgers will be culled in the southwest to combat bovine TB.

I will be interested to see the parlliament votes on this suggestion as wildlife usually rate higher in the public mind than farm animals do.

He also says that the vaccine option will be considered, but farmers already claim this is inadequate?

Minister confirms badger cull to combat bovine TB - 21/05/2010 - Farmers Weekly

[Midas]

As someone who lives in a rural environment I quite agree with this policy. Yes, badgers are lovely animals, however the damage they do and in particular their part in the spread of bovine TB does need to be controlled.

[ryoden]

According to this study badger culling is not particularly cost effective, nor is it effective in the long term. Overall the study suggests that badger culling is unlikely to contribute effectively to the control of cattle TB in Britain.

PLoS ONE: The Duration of the Effects of Repeated Widespread Badger Culling on Cattle Tuberculosis Following the Cessation of Culling

[soloman]

According to this study badger culling is not particularly cost effective, nor is it effective in the long term. Overall the study suggests that badger culling is unlikely to contribute effectively to the control of cattle TB in Britain.

PLoS ONE: The Duration of the Effects of Repeated Widespread Badger Culling on Cattle Tuberculosis Following the Cessation of Culling

Without fully being able to follow the PLoS One report, I can only ask some simplistic questions.

We are currently culling cattle who have TB; why should we not do the same to badgers?

Having culled the cattle, does the bovine TB still exist in the environment, on the ground, carried by other wildlife than just cattle and badgers?

Does it make sense to start the 'clearance process' (whatever form that may take) at Lands End and slowly move east eradicating bovine TB as they go?

What is the likely timescale expected to ensure eradication of this terrble disease throughout even Cornwall?