BVA response to Defra announcement on Bovine TB eradication strategy
Responding to todays Written Ministerial Statement from Defra Secretary of State, Rt Hon Liz Truss MP, that badger culls will continue next year, alongside stricter cattle controls, as part of the ongoing bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication programme in England, British Veterinary Association (BVA) President Sean Wensley said:
“While we continue to support targeted, effective and humane badger culling as a vital element of the bTB eradication programme, we remain disappointed that Defra plans to continue using controlled shooting and roll it out to new areas, given that the first two years of culling in the pilot areas failed to demonstrate conclusively that controlled shooting could be carried out effectively or humanely based on the criteria that were set. Again, we urge the Government to reconsider this policy and extend badger culling using cage trapping and shooting only.
“We also raised concerns about the proposals to relax the licence conditions in relation to the duration of the culling period. It is disappointing that the revised guidance to Natural England is not clearer that a simultaneous and intensive culling operation is the primary goal and does not define this. The primary goal must be to cull as many badgers as possible in as short a time as possible, in order to minimise the possible risk of perturbation.
“We have always argued that bTB will only be eradicated through a comprehensive programme utilising all of the tools available. The announcement today by the Secretary of State that the Low Risk Area, covering over half of England, is on track to achieve officially TB-free status by the end of 2019 – the first time anywhere in England has enjoyed this status – points to what may be achieved by such a comprehensive strategy.
“We welcome the strengthening of some of the tools we need to eradicate bTB, including the campaign to step up biosecurity measures in farms and in the cattle trade. We also welcome the announcement of new cattle controls, such as post-movement testing, but we are disappointed to lose the BCG vaccine from the toolbox with the temporary suspension of the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme (BEVS). In light of the global BCG shortage, it is right that public health takes priority but it is regrettable that the supply chain is so vulnerable and we would want to see more security in the future.”
