turkish van
Number 1 celebrity badger
Two more days to respond to this consultation on the proposed badger cull in England. Defra consultation page is here....
And a defra report released last month (!) on the control strategies for bovine TB - looking at culling, vaccination and a combination of both. It is only recently that vaccination has been shown to be a realistic option. But it was shown in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial of 98-06 that "Our overall conclusion is that after careful consideration of all the RBCT and other data presented in this report, including an economic assessment, that badger culling cannot meaningfully contribute to the control of cattle TB in Britain." (from the final report of the trial here). Interestingly, the information provided on the consultation page (which is extensive........) doesn't seem to include or even make reference to that particular quote.
Last months report seems to say, though doesn't spell it out, that vaccination is the best option, partly as it avoids many of the problems of culling which came up in the trial (eg random culling which will likely be carried out by landowners, and particularly the pertubation effect as badger clans are disturbed and movement of badgers increases).
Culling has no basis in science, there is plenty evidence out there to show it will be ineffective. Vaccination is now known to be a realistic and effective alternative.... so why cull?
Takes 5 minutes to send a quick email, address on the consultation page (first link).......
And a defra report released last month (!) on the control strategies for bovine TB - looking at culling, vaccination and a combination of both. It is only recently that vaccination has been shown to be a realistic option. But it was shown in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial of 98-06 that "Our overall conclusion is that after careful consideration of all the RBCT and other data presented in this report, including an economic assessment, that badger culling cannot meaningfully contribute to the control of cattle TB in Britain." (from the final report of the trial here). Interestingly, the information provided on the consultation page (which is extensive........) doesn't seem to include or even make reference to that particular quote.
Last months report seems to say, though doesn't spell it out, that vaccination is the best option, partly as it avoids many of the problems of culling which came up in the trial (eg random culling which will likely be carried out by landowners, and particularly the pertubation effect as badger clans are disturbed and movement of badgers increases).
Culling has no basis in science, there is plenty evidence out there to show it will be ineffective. Vaccination is now known to be a realistic and effective alternative.... so why cull?
Takes 5 minutes to send a quick email, address on the consultation page (first link).......
