Hug a badger - offer ends 1 June

Thu 8 Mar 2018, 18:30 (last edited on Thu 8 Mar 2018, 18:42)

The scientific basis for the badger cull is absolutely flawed. Cattle spread TB to cattle much more frequently than badgers, who come into direct contact with cattle very rarely. If you actually look at the science, culling often increases the spread of TB outside of the small area where culling takes places due to perturbation. Rigorous movement controls and regular testing is the only way that TB has ever been eradicated in countries that have successfully eliminated it. (I worked on bovine TB as a scientist at DEFRA for 4 years).

Thu 8 Mar 2018, 15:21

Spare a thought for those local cattle farmers who have had their herds infected by badgers and have had to jump through umpteen hoops to get their herds re-tested and certified as disease free. Brock the badger might look cute, but can be a real menace.

As regards culling, motor vehicles seem quite effective judging by the number of dead badgers I see at the roadside around here.

Thu 8 Mar 2018, 14:51

Nine areas of England (including Oxfordshire) apply to join badger cull … www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-43328066