BVA Supports Commitment to Badger Cull
Speaking at the Devon County Show, Jim Paice, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, said the new Government is considering how best to roll out the policy, ensuring that it is based on the science.
Commenting, Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association, said: “We welcomed the commitment to a carefully managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine tuberculosis in the Conservative Party’s manifesto and we were therefore very pleased to see it reappear in the coalition government’s programme.
“Although there was some national media speculation about the strength of this commitment, we understand the position that the new Ministers are in and we did not expect them to announce a cull in England overnight.
“Ministers should not make any statements that could prejudice a future Judicial Review and instead must take a scientific approach, similar to that in Wales where Minister Elin Jones made the decision with the advice and support of the Chief Veterinary Officer.
“The BVA has long argued for the widest range of measures to be deployed in the tackling of bovine TB and we are very pleased that the Government understands the need for an approach that utilises all of the available tools; including stricter cattle control measures, and an effective method of tackling the wildlife reservoir.
“The next step is for the ministerial team to get fully up to speed, learning from what is happening in Wales and using the expert and independent advice of TBEG, which includes representatives of the veterinary profession.”
Neil Blake, Chair of the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) TB Working Group, added: “The reality is that we will need to have access to all the available options or 'tools in the toolbox' if we are to start making inroads into the steady rise in the incidence of bovine TB in cattle over the last 10-15 years. This should include the targeted control of badgers in certain areas, strict and effective implementation of cattle controls, implementation of effective biosecurity measures and also the potential use of vaccination of badgers. In the longer term, the vaccination of cattle should also be considered if an appropriate vaccine becomes available.”
“We hope that the new coalition recognises the importance of local vets in the delivery of a broad and far reaching TB control programme and in particular the importance of the working relationship vets have with their clients when advising on minimising the risk of bovine TB and on the other biosecurity issues that arise when dealing with the impact of bovine TB.”