New bTB pressure group calls for cull options
A new pressure group calling for a 'middle way' of dealing with the problem of bovine TB in badgers has held its inaugural meeting. The group is calling for a selective cull of infected badgers by gassing, followed by oral vaccination of those which are left.
The Badger Welfare Association, founded by dairy farmer Derek Mead, attracted roughly 150 farmers to its first meeting near Bridgwater on Tuesday 14th August, as well as various badger protection groups.
Mr Mead said the group wanted to use 'countryside ways' to identify infected setts. He added: “We feel the badger groups are totally irresponsible and need to sit down and talk to the powers that be and get the problem resolved. They just seem to deny there is anything wrong.
“It’s not acceptable to the public that there is a core of TB in the countryside which is not being addressed.”
However, a spokesman for NFU South West has described the suggestions of the group as "just not practical."
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
