Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
With these notes I have attempted to give a thorough overview of the two most recent badger culls, what was behind them, who were responsible and wh , what its impact, !or lac" of#, on bTB in cattle will be and how best to tac"le bovine Tuberculosis in a credible, effective and humane wa $ I have made them as brief as I possibl can, but this is a politicall motivated and thus comple% issue$ I have included lin"s within the te%t for additional information, but the are not essential reading$ &ince I began writing these notes, D'()A have lea"ed the intend to roll out new badger culls in *ust two areas in +,-. these being the whole of Devon and Cornwall, and could /uite possibl involve gassing, as the have been breeding a hundred badgers *ust to test this out$
0olitics
The pilot badger culls run for . ears at each location$ The labour shadow farming minister promised members of the farming communit and members of the 1(2 that an pilot culls alread started b this present government would be completed under 3abour after the ne%t general election if the gain power$ Around 4,5 of the British public are against the badger culls$ http677www$shropshirestar$com7news7+,-87-+7,87poll9should9the9badger9cull9 come9to9shropshire7 and http677www$hsi$org7world7united:"ingdom7news7releases7+,-87-,7badger:cul l:failure:poll:-,-;-8$html $ The national government e9petition against the badger culls had the highest number of signatures of an government e9 petition ever$ http677www$thisiscornwall$co$u"7Anti9badger9cull9petition9gets9 +<,9,,,9signatures7stor 9-=+=+<4=9detail7stor $html> fb:action:ids?.4.;;,.<-;-,++.@fb:action:t pes?og$li"es@fb:source?agg regation@fb:aggregation:id?+4484-.4-+8A<4+Ba%CC+osrVf'DA The pilot badger culls are not about bovine TB$ 1one of the badgers "illed will be tested for bovine TB and their bodies will be cremated to remove all evidence$ The pilot badger culls turn all our environmental laws on their headE wildlife crime unit officers agreed in conversation with me that it ma"es an ass of the law$ David Cameron, 1ic" Clegg and Fwen 0aterson among others in the cabinet all belong to fo% hunts and parta"e of other Gblood sportsH$ http677www$dail mail$co$u"7news7article9+.<4.8-7(o%9hunting9ban9 rela%ed$html and http677www$mirror$co$u"7news7u"9news7u"9weather9 conservative9energ 9minister9+=;<-.A and http677www$dail mail$co$u"7news7article9+8-++==7The9s/uirrel9"illing9 Minister9Wildlife9'nvironment9&ecretar 9Fwen90aterson9shows9photo9 proudl 9holding9dead9gre s9hanging9traps99boasts9The 9wont9that$html David CameronHs hunt was recentl successfull prosecuted b the )&0CA for illegal hunting with dogs$ As a result he raised /uestions in the house and a complaint to the charities commission about the )&0CAHs right to carr out such legal proceedings$ The complaint was re*ected b the charities commission$ &ince then David Cameron has been on a crusade to silence lobb groups and charities, and to remove the protected species status of badgers and to repeal the hunting with dogs act$ http677www$theguardian$com7u"7+,-+7dec7-A7david9cameron9hunt9convicted9
rspca and http677www$telegraph$co$u"7news7u"news7law9and9 order7-,-,;;=+7Cameron9fo%9hunt9*udge9criticised9for9/uestioning9 )&0CA$html The Conservative part is ver closel tied to, and reliant on, the pro hunting pressure group Countr side Alliance6 http677www$dail mail$co$u"7news7article9+<+=+447Iold9vote9hunting9ban9ll9 desert9Tories9told$html Devon has two ma*or pro badger cull activists6 -$ )ichard Iaddoc" of Bri%ham, who was "nown as the G1(2 )ottweilerH, and who is also a beef farmer$ Ie has recentl left the 1(2 because the organisation wasnHt e%treme enough for him$ Ie now wishes to become an M'0$ http677www$farmersguardian$com7going9it9alone9after9+,9 ears9at9the9 nfu9but9still9determined9to9remain9a9voice9for9farmers7-;-..$article +$ Brian Iill in 1orth Devon gives tal"s to farmers on wa s to "ill badgers and other wildlife and not get prosecuted for wildlife crime$ Ie is a strong advocate of gassing badgers$ Ie claims to be able to tell if a badger has TB *ust b loo"ing at it and if a sett is GinfectedH b how it smells$ Ie wor"s along side pro gassing Dere" Mead and his website is6 http677www$badgerwelfareassociation$org$u"7 http677news$bbc$co$u"7-7hi7england7devon7.;<-=8<$stm http677www$thisiscornwall$co$u"71ew9group9argues9selective9badger9 cull7stor 9-;A-,;=;9detail7stor $htmlBa%CC+n%J%0KI< Dartmoor has a long tradition of hunting a ver wide variet of British wildlife$ It is the most li"el place to ta"e part in a badger cull in Devon$ Liven how eas it is to get lost on Dartmoor in da light, hundreds of protestors getting into difficulties in the dar" on Dartmoor will /uic"l become newsworth nationall $ Liven that a minorit government has been able to overturn the protected status of our native badgers, without allowing a free vote in parliament, the 2M will need far tougher environmental and wildlife protection laws in future, overseen b a non part political independent organisation$ 1atural 'ngland, presentl lead b investment ban"er and venture capitalist Andrew &ells, !who has donated more than N---,,,, to the Conservative 0art in +,-,9-- alone#, http677www$theguardian$com7environment7+,-87dec7-;7natural9england9 andrew9sells9access has shown itself to be partisan and not fit for purpose$ 1atural 'ngland issues the licences for both badger vaccination and for culling badgers$ The give no favours to badger vaccination groups and demand new licences be applied for ever farm or land ta"ing part in badger vaccination$ These can ta"e up to one month to be issued$ This added bureaucrac ma"es running a volunteer badger vaccination scheme unnecessaril complicatedE particularl when ou consider how readil the issued e%tensions to cull companies including over the wee"end, even though the remit of the cull had changed$ The cull companies made good use of the one wee" dela between the end of the &omerset badger cull and its resumption with the e%tension from 1atural 'ngland, b getting into place cage traps and pre baiting$ The "new before hand that the would be granted an e%tension and wor"ed on preparing new methods of catching badgers even though this was technically illegal, the badger cull having officiall ended$ The remit of the + pilot badger culls was to test the humaneness of "illing b shooting free running badgers$ Iumanness was to be established b listening for screams and other sounds of distress as the badgers died, but onl ,$-5 of all "ills were observed b independent monitors and half of those were actuall telephone interviews with individual cullers after the shooting for the night had finished$
The uselessness of tr ing to shoot free running badgers became apparent within the first wee", badgers having e%cellent hearing and being naturall flight $ &o the use of cage traps was brought in even though this was not part of the purpose for the culls$ At this point 1atural 'ngland should have revo"ed the licences as the remit had changed$ The 2Ms Wildlife Crime 2nits are understaffed and under resourced$ Liven the massive rise in wildlife crime, particularl noticeable against badgers, http677www$eadt$co$u"7news7esse%:investigation:after:spate:of:attac"s:on :badgers:-:8,4=+<, unleashed b this governments badger cull polic , the WC2 are even more under resourced than usual$ The WC2 regularl has to fight for its own *obs and finance, largel because this Lovernment wants to remove an and all wildlife protection laws$ The WC2 should have their funding secured and their place should be a mandator part of British policing$ The should also have more trained officers, both within the unit and as bac" up among the bod of the British police force$ The removal of the protected status of badgers will enable developers to build on green belt land, thus raising land prices$ If a developer is not obliged to do an environmental audit, and does not have to build an artificial sett to re9house badgers the wa is clear to *ust bring in the bulldoCers$ http677www$independent$co$u"7environment7nature7licence9to9trash9nature9 campaigners9warn9of9new9scheme9that9would9allow9housebuilding9in9 biodiverse9areas94=-=+-A$html &imilarl it is interesting to overla the I&+ route with the governments own TB hot spot map$
A map showing the potential correlation between hunting and TB hotspots also ma"es interesting reading, given the transfer of soil across pastures b huntsmenHs horses, boots and vehicles$
Fnce the culls were underwa , because the cull /uota wasnHt being reached, more pressure was e%erted on the remaining 8,5 who refused to ta"e part to get them on board, this included trespass b cullers onto land not ta"ing part in the badger cull *ust to get the numbers up$ The ma*orit of the cage traps used in the badger cull were supplied b the 1(2, stamped with their initialsE the remainder were provided b the AIV3A, who used the same staff and traps used to train badger vaccinators$ http677www$fwi$co$u"7articles7+=7,87+,-+7-8+-A47we8=ll9pa 9to9 cage9trap9badgers9nfu$htm Iundreds of these cage traps were ta"en out of West &omerset into 1orth Devon at the end of the &omerset badger cull$ &ales of cage traps for badgers have since gone through the roof in the West Countr , to the point where none can be bought from farmers suppliers in Devon as both the and their suppliers have sold out$ (armers have obviousl realised this is the onl wa to successfull "ill their badgers, even if it is illegal, and there have been reports of stoc"piling of cage traps in 1orth Devon in preparation for a badger cull in Devon$ Despite alread being banned as particularl inhumane, the 1(2 have encouraged D'()A to e%plore gassing as a means of eradicating the nations badgers$ The AIV3A !part of D'()A#, are presentl carr ing out e%periments on gassing badgers$ This article e%plains wh gassing should not be used6 http677leanonus$co7blog7badgers7
Culling companies
These are actuall individuals drawn from the Gpest controlH wing of the hunting set$
Roger Warner (master of Ledbury Hunt) going for a stroll with one of his boys late last night after an incident where they attacked some people for walking on a footpath during the badger culls.
Man are revelling in their new found freedom to "ill a Gprotected speciesH and have set up numerous (aceboo" sites such as Gwe love badger controlH where images of hunted and tortured badgers can be seen$ (aceboo" incidentall doesnHt have an rules on showing or encouraging animal cruelt or committing or aiding wildlife crime, onl rules on harassment$
https677www$faceboo"$com7pages7We93ove9Badger9 Control7-..8+,,<+=+.,,4Fne site called Gwe love fo% controlH included a picture of a huntsman holding up a large dead boar badger, shot in April before the official badger cull started$ It has been removed b (aceboo", finall $ &o confident are the that at their immunit from prosecution for wildlife crime that the even run competitions, the priCe of which is a night shooting badgers in the badger cull Cones$ &o much for rigorous chec"ing of culling GcompaniesH$ This image was from GWe love Badger ControlH and was circulated on Twitter as well as on (aceboo"$ D'()A were as"ed about their logo being used in this competition advert and the refused to comment$
Most cullers are drawn from the Countr side Alliance$ Man are teenagers and do it, not for the mone , but for the opportunit to pla Gwar gamesH in the streets of the West Countr $ Man routinel harass and film protesters and local Wounded Badger 0atrollers and the especiall target women$ A host of GAnti9watchH (aceboo" sites have sprung up where names, profile pictures, and where possible the addresses of individual protestors are posted$ Members are encouraged to harass these GAntisH$ As soon as (aceboo" closes down one another replaces it$ These (aceboo" pages are run b the same people as GWe love badger controlH https677www$faceboo"$com7pages7&cum9watch7-.8A<..4.;.;-A4The cullers who shot badgers inhumanel , causing pain and suffering and not in accordance with the culling guidelines were not removed from the culling programme or reprimanded$ Iowever the were not paid for the poorl shot badgers but neither were these badgers added to the head count of culled badgers, so the died a painful, slow and unaccounted death$ http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?KFM:1v-,44,
Vaccinated badgers are entitled to a buffer Cone around the land that too" part in badger vaccination, but an agreed national buffer Cone siCe has not been decided upon b D'()A or 1atural 'ngland$ As a result, badger vaccination programmes had to re/uest individual buffer Cones around their farms, and in the event onl one was granted b 1atural 'ngland for &omerset$ This buffer Cone of +,, meters was breached repeatedl b the culling companies, including placing cage traps within this buffer Cone and cullers trespassing onto land ta"ing part in badger vaccination$ Culling companies were supposed to not shoot within <, meters of a road, public footpath or dwelling, but this was regularl flouted in both Cones$ I for one found m self surrounded b men with guns both sides of the countr lane I was in, both groups of men were well within <, meters of me and I could not see in the dar" which wa the were facing$ It was /uite terrif ing$ The cullers are often using militar grade weaponr with high calibre bullets with an up to + mile tra*ector $ The are also using militar tracer bullets, which loo" to the untrained e e li"e a firewor" when fired$ A soldier was "illed this ear within his barrac"s b a stra bullet from the firing range -Mm awa , with members of the public also at ris" even further awa at a local beach$ http677www$bbc$co$u"7news7u"9wales9south9west9 wales9+-A.;8;A During the &omerset badger cull doCens of non target species were shot including man owls, mostl tawn owls but also one or two barn owls too$ The cullers were using animal sounds to communicate with each other in the dar", mostl using Tawn Fwl calls$ The )&0CA has some of these owlsE most were removed before the )&0CA could collect them$ At the same time a road sign -,H up in the air in the &omerset badger cull Cone was peppered with A bullet holes from a high calibre weapon$
Around the same time West Countr media reported a spate of road sign shootings across Devon stretching from West &omerset across 1orth Devon and into 1orth Cornwall$ These articles did not mention the badger cull$ http677www$bbc$co$u"7news7u"9england9+..=4.4+ and a whole page given to West Countr gun fire graffiti, the dates tall ing with the start of the West &omerset badger culls has been created b an e%9militar man concerned at the rise in random shootings in the 2M http677gunfire9graffiti$co$u"7the9wild9 west9countr 7 Man anti cull protesters have e%perienced threats of violence, including death threats$ Do not underestimate the violence and lawlessness of the pro9cull lobb $ The culling companies intentionall trapped and shot badgers from ad*acent non culling farms as a recent (reedom of Information )e/uest for monitoring forms e%posed$ What is most shoc"ing is this was intentional and was not viewed b either the cullers or b the observers as underhand$ I would li"e to "now if the had the same approach to culling vaccinated badgers as this
was not mentioned in an of the compliance monitoring forms$ The also set traps ad*acent to the land of conservation organisations such as 1ature in Art, and did not contact or warn them of their presence$ https677www$ outube$com7watch> feature?pla er:embedded@v?hwWCMa. *'" These same monitoring reports show that biosecurit guidelines are not alwa s followed either$ &ee full report )ifle -A,=-8 -A th &eptember +,-8 for e%ample, where guidance on biosecurit were not followed and the badger was also shot in the head, and not in the bod as per the guidelines$ The biosecurit of the cullers was ver suspect indeed$ As the moved rapidl from site to site, driving across TB infected land, no spra ing of car t res with disinfectant or an of the other essential biosecurit measures vaccinators have to adhere to were seen b wounded badger patrollers$ Badgers were supposed to be shot in the bod not the head, and were also supposed to be double bagged$ The police were even seen helping the bagging up of badgers in a MacDonaldHs car par"O Iere is one e%ample of incorrect and inhumane shooting and incorrect biosecurit and bagging up6 http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?nptJiMvPTD4 More reports of incorrect and inhumane shooting of badgers can be found in the Compliance monitoring forms, of the independent monitors of the badger culls, which are available via freedom of information re/uests$ It is also interesting to note that when the hire car compan used in the badger cull Cones was informed of the dangers of spreading bTB b the lac" of biosecurit being observed on their vehicles, the pulled their vehicles out of the badger cull Cones the ne%t da $ The cullers fre/uentl breached the legal Gbuffer ConeH around vaccinated setts, so destro ing badgers which are alread protected from bovine TB$ Central to both pilot badger culls were large shooting estates$ The one in &omerset was Chargot 'state alongside Chargot woods$ This shooting estate is part of a large chain of shooting estates based in Wales$ At Chargot thousands of partridges are intensivel raised within maiCe fields, !the smell was incredible, *ust li"e an intensive chic"en shed#$ To the untrained e e ou would see fields of maiCe with e%traordinaril tall and dense hedges and e%cessive chic"en wire all over the field gates$ There are two stri"ing things about the Chargot 'state$ The first was that although this was prime badger countr with hill woodlands with badger setts there and fields of maiCe nearb , !which badgers love#, there was 1F evidence of an badger runs, neither recent or old$ This points to the badgers being persecuted illegall in this area for a ver long time indeed$ The second was that cage traps were being stored along the inside edges of these maiCe fields ne%t to the dense hedging, where the could not be seen from the road, but were near to hand to used in the nearb Chargot woods to trap and "ill badgers$ http677chargotshoot$co$u"7 Violent tactics learned b cullers in the badger cull Cones to threaten and intimidate protesters and monitors are now being deplo ed during fo% hunts6 http677www$westerndail press$co$u"7Iunt9monitors9sa 9mas"ed9man9threw9 e%plosive7stor 9+,8A.A-.9detail7stor $html and http677www$mirror$co$u"7news7world9news7nigel9farage9mar"9b croft9footage9 +=;.===
0olicing
The culler sac"ed earl in the badger cull for Q)andom &hootingR was never arrested or prosecuted$
The cullers who rammed a lone woman protestorHs car were never arrested or prosecuted$ The cullers who fired a firewor" at the car of a lone woman protestor, shattering her rear window screen, were never arrested or prosecuted$
The cullers who fired over the heads of a group of Wounded Badger 0atrollers who were all wearing high visibilit vests and wal"ing on a public footpath, were never arrested or prosecuted$ The culler who was wor"ing alone, !illegal in itself#, and firing towards a road using high calibre tracer bullets, and who ran off leaving live ammunition behind was arrested but not prosecuted$ http677www$westerndail press$co$u"73ive9ammunition9field9badger9cull9hits9 trouble7stor 9-=444<<-9detail7stor $html The cullers who beat up two Wounded Badger 0atrollers and who followed them to their car and again attac"ed both them and their car, were never arrested or prosecuted$
http677www$independent$co$u"7news7u"7crime7badger9cull9protester9claims9 she9was9assaulted944.<-;.$html The man cullers who threw firewor"s and other incendiar devices under the cars of man protesters over a number of wee"s were never arrested or prosecuted$ It is a merc that none of the vehicles hit had a petrol lea" at the time$ Iere is one wee"l update b one peaceful protester Q After 2 evenings of
30 incendiary devices being thrown at badger patrol from a rolling convoy of 10 4x4 vehicles, the police have given our cull zone area a police presence. on Monday evening 7 incendiaries were thrown at badger patrol from 3 moving 4x4s, this quickly escalated on Tuesday evening to 23 incendiaries being thrown at badger patrol from a rolling convoy of 10 4x4s.3 separate police units were called to multiple incidences, all licence plates were recorded and given to police, the rolling convoy of 10 4x4 vehicles were able to outsmart the 3 police units all evening with no arrests made !!!
0olice have handed out civil in*unctions on behalf of the 1(2 to an one and ever one who stood still for long enough, often *ust handing people pieces of paper but not sa ing an thing at all$ As a civil matter this was not their *ob to do$ http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?As&AbrVb9V. The police repeatedl and illegall closed off roads and public footpaths to allow the cullers to "ill badgers and prevent protest or access for Wounded Badger 0atrols$ The sometimes used false electricit signage to ma"e it seem legitimate$ 1o notice was ever given, this increased the chaos in the badger cull Cones, and was a huge inconvenience to local residents$ http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?%-3"2v30ueg and http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?2JLmDi&D).M and http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?IKf-;CWI/SP 3ocal politicians re/uested more arrests towards the end of the Lloucestershire badger cull, so the police complied b arresting an one, no matter how preposterous this was, including elderl and disabled protestors, all were later released without charge$ http677www$ outube$com7watch> v?i0;l)J."49, and http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?go;&MilTtDP The police too" the number plate details, and filmed, ever vehicle, driver and passengers in the badger cull Cones, regardless of what the were doing$ The police operated an unofficial and thus an illegal curfew during night time hours in both cull Cones, stopping and searching ever vehicle that came into the badger cull Cones, including locals going to and from nightshift wor"$ The police used ver large hire vehicles !the siCe of librar busses# to bloc" protesters into narrow lanes so that the could not get close to the cullers or to the badgers$ 1o reason was ever given$ Ff the doCens of protesters and Wounded Badger 0atrollers arrested all but one were released without charge$ Fnl one protester is facing a court trail and it is e%pected she will be found not guilt of an offence$ Ier crime was to run across a field waving her torch$ http677www$coventr telegraph$net7news7coventr 9news7coventr 9protester9 onl 9person9u"9;.-,8<8 In all cases of violence against protestors, the police have done their utmost to drop and close these cases as /uic"l as possible, and not carr them through to court as those victims wished$ Throughout the police behaved as the private securit firm for the 1(2 and the culling companies$ There were even reports of them helping to bag up and transport the bodies of dead badgers$ The behaved in a partisan fashion in both Cones$ Ffficers were brought together from +, different police forces at considerable e%pense$ When the cull was +78rds in the cost of policing was 4 million. The government is refusing to answer freedom of information re/uests for the full cost of the two pilot badger cull Cones$ The estimated cost at 50,000 per day, is close to 6 million.
Friginall the cost of policing was supposed to be borne b the farmers ta"ing part in the pilot culls$ This has since been switched to be borne b the British ta%pa ers via D'()A$ Liven the ma*orit of the British public are against this badger cull, and at a time of austerit , this s/uandering of ta%pa ers mone will be criticised$ If a further 0 !adger culls are rolled out, or all of Devon and Cornwall along side the " e#isting and continuing !adger culls the cost of policing, alone, will !e truly eye watering.
too" this photograph once I was certain there was nothing more I could do to save it$ This volume of traffic hurtling down /uiet countr lanes and village streets was not what these residents were e%pecting when a badger cull was imposed on them$
With the general wildlife crime levels also soaring in the badger cull Cones than"s to the green light given b this government, the lac" of prosecutions of wildlife criminals b the police, and neighbours no longer trusting neighbours, it will ta"e decades for these rural communities to heal$
Badger ecolog
The 'urasian badger !Meles meles# is an omnivorous native mammal, !not carnivorous as reported in some of the press#, which have lived in the 2M for T a million ears$ In other words, badgers were here in the 2M before we were$ Most badgers live for around . ears in the wild$ The are a social animal living in clans with a dominant pair who do most of the breeding for the group$ The do not breed li"e rabbitsE there is a strong social hierarch that prevents this$ Cubs are born in ones and twos not in huge litters, and the dela ed implantation of sow badgers ensures all cubs are born at the same time$ The average number of cubs born is a sett is around . per ear$ Badgers are fiercel territorial, mar"ing the borders of their land with scent to tell neighbouring clans that this is their land$ These borders are chec"ed regularl and scent mar"ing refreshed$ Badger culling brea"s down all social barriers and encourages movement of badgers across the count E the GperturbationH effect$ Badger setts can be in continuous occupation for a ver long time, which is clear evidence of long standing stable social groups$ 3arge setts can be well over -,,,, ears old and the e%istence of badger setts can be traced in all British town names which include the word GBroc"H$ Badger numbers do fluctuate with seasonal and climatic changes, and the availabilit of food$ Their main food source are earth worms and other soil based invertebrates$ If there is flooding of land the are forced to move on if
the cannot access their main food source, as was seen in +,-+ with the flooding of the &omerset levels, where badgers moved to higher land, sometimes into towns$ Badger numbers are not Gout of controlH as often reported b West Countr newspapers and the farming press$ (or centuries badgers have been persecuted for GsportH in badger baiting, leading in the -=A,Hs to a ver near e%tinction in man parts of the 2M$ This was addressed b the 0rotected &peciesH act$ &ince the -=A,Hs the numbers of badgers has recovered to the optimum number that can be supported b the local food suppl $ Liven the hierarchical nature of their breeding, where mostl the dominant pair breed, badger culling, particularl where one or both of the dominant pair are "illed, will lead to further dramatic fluctuations in the badger population$ There is no such thing as a Ghard boundar H$ Badgers are primaril suited to digging, but the can run well with turns of speed up to 8, mph, climb ver successfull and can swim across rivers if the need to, including tidal estuaries$ Badgers onl produce around -7+ a teacup cup full of faeces and urine per da $ Their faecal deposits form part of their territor boundar mar"ings as GlatrinesH and are deposited in small scrapes in the ground, usuall under trees where the undergrowth is sparse or non e%istent$ These latrines are shared b other members of the same clan$ Badgers are ver h gienic animals and will air their bedding material in the sun to remove pests before ta"ing it bac" into the sett$ The are "nown to use strongl scented material such as wild garlic in their bedding to deter fleas$ Around <,,,,, badgers are "illed on the roads in the 2M ever ear$ Tests of these badgers have found bTB rates to be ver low indeed with rarel ever an visible evidence of the disease$ Badgers are often accused of causing the decline of the British hedgehog population, b those determined to demonise our native badgers$ This accusation is denied b the British Iedgehog 0reservation &ociet , and it is worth pointing out that badgers have co9e%isted with hedgehogs for T a million ears in the 2M$ The decline of the hedgehog population directl corresponds with increased intensification of farming, increased use of fencing, rising traffic levels in the 2M and the rise in the use of pesticides$ (armers and gardeners are often anno ed b badgers digging holes in their search for food$ Iowever, the far sighted will realise the badgers search for grubs and other soil based invertebrates is often more helpful to us than harmful, feasting as the do on leather *ac"et and coc" chafer grubs and other GpestsH of the soil and crops$
Bovine TB prevention
&lurr and soil management is "e $ Bovine TB can e%ist in the soil for an thing between - ear . months and + ears depending on the soil conditions$ http677not9in9this9farmers9 name$tumblr$com7post7.A+-+.-;.;;7could9slurr 9be9a9contributing9factor9 to9bovine9tb Bovine TB is "illed b ultraviolet light and reduced b dr ing, thus an individual cow pat is the perfect wa for bTB bacteria to be "illed$ Most slurr is stored in the dar" and moist, and thus breeds a culture of bTB to be spread on the land in industrial /uantities, often man miles from the cows that produced it, further spreading bovine TB to other non infected areas$ http677www$eenews$net7stories7-,<===-84=
Cows were vaccinated against bovine TB in the 2M up until the -=A,Hs when we *oined the '$2$ At that time there was no test to differentiate infected cows from vaccinated cattle, but this has changed recentl with the creation of the DIVA test$ &ince Danuar +,-8 there has been a 0% reduction in rates of !ovine &' in cattle month on month due to improved biosecurit demanded b the '2 and so implemented b D'()A$ This improvement is far bigger than an pro*ected fall in TB in cattle due to a badger cull, which scientists sa could onl get, at !est, a reduction of up to 6% on the rate of increase after hard culling for ( years$ http677www$farmingmonthl $co$u"7livestoc"7animal9 health7A==49whisper9/uietl 9defra9tb9cattle9slaughter9rates9nearl 9-,9+,-+7
0ercentage of tested cattle slaughtered due to infection -==; U +,-+ !please note, the dip in testing from +,,, U +,,- is due to the outbrea" of foot and mouth, the following rapid rise can onl be attributed to restoc"ing with untested TB infected cattle$# &ee also http677www$globalmeatnews$com7Industr 9Mar"ets7Cattle9 management9is9reason9for9bTB9reduction9finds9new9stud D'()A announced in the late summer this ear that the would be carr ing out cattle vaccination field trials ne%t in +,-.$ Liven that there is a cattle vaccine alread in use around the world, and indeed the 2M has used it in the past, and also that it does not need to be administered at a particular time of ear, !unli"e with badgers#, there is no reason for this dela in trialling or in using the cattle vaccine nation wide$ The proof that badgers can pass bTB to cattle was the wor" of one scientific e%periment so contrived as to never be possible in real life$ . badgers were purposel infected with bovine TB b forcing them to breathe in live bacteria as a vapour, !which is the main form of transmission#$ These badgers were then imprisoned in a ver small shed with 4 oung calves for man months$ This e%periment has not been repeated b an other scientist, and the result of this one e%periment b 0rofessor Cath )ees of 1ottingham 2niversit has been used b Fwen 0aterson to claim up to -;5 of outbrea"s of bovine TB in cattle being caused b badgers$ I discussed this with her at this event$ http677www$badgergate$org7wp9content7uploads7+,-87,+7Vaccination:fl er:9 -$pdf at 3ondon Soo in Fctober +,-8$ &ee also
http677www$globalresearch$ca7englands9"illing9fields9h9m9governments9 badger9culls9"ill9scientific9honest 7<8<+4,<> fb:action:ids?<4<4.-,A-.<8,<+@fb:action:t pes?og$li"es@fb:source?agg regation@fb:aggregation:id?+4484-.4-+8A<4+ Bovine TB is affected b other diseases, most especiall b avian TB or 0ara tuberculosis$ An mammal can catch Avian TB, and it then ma"es animals more susceptible to bovine TB, it also interferes with the s"in test used to detect bTB$ <,5 of the 2MHs intensivel farmed chic"en floc"s and other farmed fowls have para TB$ This is concentrated in chic"en litter which is spread as fertiliser on fields$ It can survive in the soil and in water for a ver long time, far longer than bovine TB$ http677www$not9in9this9farmers9 name$com7 The increasing use of maiCe for cattle feed leads to mineral deficienc in both cattle and in badgers, !as badgers love maiCe too#$Mineral deficienc will also ma"e an animal more susceptible to bovine TB$ Lood soil management and mineral lic"s for both badgers and cattle will correct this$ This present governmentHs push for increased intensification of farming in general, and of dair farming in particular, giving rise to even bigger numbers of cattle, often in TB hot spot areas where cattle are alread close to being the local monoculture, will lead to higher incidences of man diseases including bovine TB$ http677www$farmersguardian$com7home7business7british9dair ing9see"ing9 global9growth9nfu7<=A8A$article> utm:source?newsletter@utm:medium?email@utm:campaign?13Dair The increasing stress caused to cows in intensive farming to produce more and more mil" will also ma"e them more susceptible to man diseases including avian and bovine TB$ Biosecurit is often seen b man to mean *ust "eeping badgers separate from cattle$ Iowever, the main form of transmission of TB within cattle is cow to cow$ It is thus ver important that TB infected cattle be "ept awa from other cows, not be allowed to breathe on neighbouring herds, cattle troughs are cleaned regularl , and that all cattle mar"ets, and especiall those which deal with TB infected cattle, follow the guidelines on biosecurit to the letter$ &adl this is rarel the case$ http677www$ outube$com7watch> v?D4gp MgMCP and http677www$publications$parliament$u"7pa7cm+,-8-.7cmselect7cmenvfru7+<47 +<4vw,;$htm &ome cattle breeds are more susceptible to bovine TB than others$ The British (riesian, which was resistant to bTB, have been replaced b 'uropean Iolsteins !=<5 of the British Dair industr #, which produce more mil" but are more susceptible to bovine TB$ In addition the are not reall suited to the wet British climate and need to be overwintered indoors$ This increases contact between cattle, slurr is collected and stored in industrial /uantities further spreading bTB, and immunit is greatl lowered b the stressful, unnatural and sometimes filth conditions$ https677www$faceboo"$com7photo$php>v?844-8,48-+=+;+. Cattle which have fought off bTB show up as reactors using the much used s"in test$ Milling off cattle which have a natural immunit further wea"ens the gene pool, *ust because a diagnostic test is being miss applied$ The s"in test was onl ever intended to be an indicator of !&' in the herd and not as an indicator of bTB in individual cattle$ The s"in test gives "0% false negatives which means infected but not reacting cattle are returned to the herd to infect more cattle$ The DIVA test is more than ==5 accurate and produces no false negatives$
The recent reliance on artificial insemination has also lead to a further shrin"ing of the gene pool$ Man of the bulls still used for their semen are long since dead b decades, and so there is now a degree of inbreeding$ 1arrowing of a gene pool will also ma"e animals more susceptible to diseases$ All the top scientists and e%perts in the countr "now that this disease begins with the beef and dair industr and that this is where the solution la s$ 1o scientist can demonstrate how a badger could possibl give bovine TB to cattle in the field$ 1o scientists agree that a cull of badgers will ma"e an meaningful difference to bTB in cattle$ The N.= million, = ear )andomised Badger Culling Trials conducted b 3ord Mrebs paid for b the British ta%pa er concluded "illing badgers would ma"e Qno meaningful difference to bovine TB in cattleR$ The Lovernment has been unable to produce one credible scientist to bac" their badger "illing plans as a means to control bTB in cattle$ http677www$globalresearch$ca7englands9"illing9fields9h9m9 governments9badger9culls9"ill9scientific9honest 7<8<+4,<> fb:action:ids?<4<4.-,A-.<8,<+@fb:action:t pes?og$li"es@fb:source?agg regation@fb:aggregation:id?+4484-.4-+8A<4+ As bovine TB can be caught b ever animal, including humans, and as the incidences of bovine TB outside of bovines is highest in farmed and domesticated animals, "illing wild badgers will not wor" to reduce bovine TB in cattle$ Bovine TB is highest in pigs, cats and alpacas, and no one would suggest a mass slaughter of them$ Loing to the source of the infection in cattle is the onl answer$ 0oliticians need to /uestion D'()As reluctance to vaccinate cattle$ The vaccine and an e%cellent diagnostic tool are available but not being used$ http677www$thebeefsite$com7news7..;,A7brucellosis9and9tuberculosis9 success9model9for9elsewhere TB infected beef is being sold both to the British public http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?.*I:gBFwrd2 and e%ported abroad, with nations such as (rance http677www$thesunda times$co$u"7sto7news7u":news71ational7article-+4.++= $ece furious that we are selling them QTB freshR meat$ 1o one is prepared to define what temperatures and coo"ing methods will "ill bTB bacteria in meat$ 1ever the less D'()A and our government are stonewalling on cattle vaccination and our M0s are letting them, as well as allowing the "illing of a wild native species which catches TB from cattle, is not a ma*or carrier, and would need a massivel contrived scenario to pass this disease to an thing else$
Badger vaccination
As hundreds of cage traps were used in both &omerset and Lloucestershire to shoot badgers http677www$ outube$com7watch>v?M;/KCV+s0DK There is no reason wh those same cage traps cannot be used to vaccinate badgers using trained volunteers$ TBVAC with over <, active members !vaccinators, trainee vaccinators and sett surve ors#, is probabl the largest volunteer run badger vaccination scheme in the countr $ We aim to vaccinate as man badgers as possible across all of Devon in +,-.$ The BCL vaccine in badgers is A;5 effective$ This ma"es it one of the highest efficac rates of an vaccine$
The same vaccine in humans is onl <,5 effective but we have herd immunit all the same$ Badger cubs born into a sett with vaccinated adults have a far greater immunit to bovine TB as a result$ Vaccinating an infected badger will slow down the progression of the disease and greatl reduces bTB e%cretion at the end of life$ Volunteer badger vaccination schemes will vaccinate for *ust the cost of the vaccine, which is far cheaper than ta"ing part in a badger cull$ There is no social upheaval for either badgers or the local human population, and with no threat to the local tourist econom $ &ett surve ing can be done an time of ear although spring is the best time$ Vaccination ta"es places in the summer and autumn$ Badgers often do not notice the in*ection of the vaccine, but the do often get a bit *ump about the fur clipping before the stoc" spra is used as a temporar mar"er$ It is illegal to permanentl mar" or tag a badger, so often badgers will get vaccinated ever ear, but this does them no harm$ Badgers onl live on average for . ears so a . ear vaccination programme will eliminate bTB in badgers$ Iowever, if there are cattle present, the soil and slurr spreading must be managed to prevent re9infection of the badgers in later ears$ Vaccinated badgers are entitled to a buffer Cone around the land that too" part in badger vaccination, however enforcing this was difficult in &omerset with onl small farms ta"ing part$ There is safet in numbers so contiguous vaccination is desirable and ma"es it easier to enforce buffer Cones$ If a badger is found to be ill when vaccinating a vet has to be called, and if visibl ill, the vet will euthaniCe a sic" badger$ This ear in 0embro"eshire the Welsh Lovernment vaccinated more than -,.,, of badgers against bovine TB, in a TB hotspot area$ )o vet needed to !e called as no badgers were visibl ill$ Liven that Fwen 0aterson would have us believe the nations badgers are riddled with this disease, and that to "ill them all is a merc , the facts, as usual, show otherwise$ http677www$farmingmonthl $co$u"7livestoc"7animal9health7A=.A9claims9that9 high9number9of9badgers9are9sic"9undermined9b 9welsh9research7 The Welsh badger vaccination scheme is being staffed b D'()A, not b volunteers, which is wh the official cost of badger vaccination is so high$ 2sing volunteers ma"es badger vaccination affordable and ethical at a fraction of the cost of ta"ing part in a badger cull$ The first action this government too" on bovine TB when it came into power was to cut the funding for research in badger vaccines both oral and in*ectable b .7<ths$ If the had "ept the funding at the same levels as 3abour it is possible we ma have had an oral badger vaccine b now$ As a result of these cuts, it is e%pected that the oral badger vaccine will ta"e another < ears before it is available for wider use$ The main issue is dosage to ensure ade/uate ta"e up$ The other issue is how to ma"e it palatable to badgers, but given badgers love peanuts and peanut butter I reall cannot see wh the scientists are ma"ing heav weather over this$
&ummar
The pilot badger cull trials are evidence of corruption of the most important structures of the British political and governance s stems concerning our countr side$ )anging from 1atural 'ngland, D'()A, (')A and the AIV3A to the giving of power to non elected organisations such as the 1(2 and the Countr side Alliance, the incorporating of li"el wildlife criminals such as some members of the
culling teams and escalating all the wa up to our heads of state$ In short the are Qall in it togetherR$ It is clear that after this government changes this countr will need far better environmental protection laws which cannot be overturned at the whim of a minorit government$ Fur countr side and its wildlife are far too important to be used in the future as a political football$ We shall also need a properl independent non part political organisation to oversee the protection of our countr side and of our wildlife, and prevent a disaster li"e this happening again to our wildlife and to our rural communities$ Ama Menec, Chair of TBVAC Devon wide badger vaccination, 8, th December +,-8 I can be contacted via chair$tbvacVhotmail$com or tel6 ,AAA8=,+A,+