A report by an independent expert panel found the pilot culls failed on humaneness and effectiveness.

BVA supports the decision not to roll out badger culling, based on recent report findings

The BVA has supported the Government's decision not to roll out the badger cull by introducing controlled shooting to new areas.

In a recent statment, BVA said further details and assurances are needed before it can support the continuation of the pilots later in the year.

Pilot badger culls took place last year in Gloucestershire and Somerset as part of the Government's strategy to eradicate bovine TB. The Independent Expert Panel's (IEP) report into the humaneness, safety and effectiveness of the trials was published by the Government this month (April).

According to the report's findings, the pilots failed to meet the criteria for effectiveness (i.e. in terms of the number of badgers removed), and that the method for controlled shooting had failed to meet the criteria for humaneness.

The Government has since announced that culling would not be introduced to other areas, but that the pilot culls would continue in Gloucestershire and Somerset to complete the four years of culling that was originally planned. Defra has also announced that improvements would be made to the pilot culls.

On April 16, the BVA Council agreed to the following position:

    •    Recognises the evidence from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial that suggests that if culling in the pilot areas is stopped now that there is a significant risk that this will lead to an increase in TB in cattle in those areas.
    •    States that BVA could only support further culling in the pilot areas if steps are taken to improve both its effectiveness and the humaneness of controlled shooting and if there is a robust monitoring and collation of results, and independent analysis and auditing by a non-governmental body.
    •    Supports the IEP's recommendations for improving effectiveness and humaneness and urges Defra to implement all the IEPs recommendations fully.
    •    States that Defra's current response to the IEP's recommendations does not provide BVA with sufficient detail or assurances to satisfy us that it will deliver the necessary improvements in effectiveness or humaneness.
    •    BVA is now seeking further dialogue with Defra to clarify the Government's response and strengthen the implementation of the proposed improvement.


Robin Hargreaves, president of the BVA, commented: "BVA has always been clear that we could not support the roll out of controlled shooting as a method to cull badgers if it was found to be inhumane or ineffective, and we therefore welcome the Government's decision not to roll out the cull to new areas.

"However, we must also take a position that will deliver the best possible outcomes for disease control and we know from evidence in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial that if culling in the pilot areas is stopped now there is a significant risk that this will lead to an increase in TB in cattle.

"In reaching our decision we have carefully weighed up both the scientific evidence and ethical arguments, as well as considering the views of our individual members and specialist divisions.

"It is absolutely essential that significant changes are made to the pilot culls to address the issues of effectiveness and humaneness. The IEP has made strong recommendations to Defra and we not only urge Defra to implement them fully but will be looking for detailed assurances of how this will be done before deciding whether we could support the continuation.

"We will be meeting with Defra as soon as possible to discuss all of these issues.

For more information, and link to the IEP report click here.