United Kingdom-More on TB and Badgers.

Dr Mynott says that NFU always focuses on the transmission of bovine TB from badgers to cattle (Mercury, March 10).

Dairy and beef farmers abide by a strict regime of cattle testing for bovine TB, including pre-movement testing; badgers have free range over the countryside, so badgers carrying bovine TB will infect both cattle and each other.

However, an issue that no-one can debate is the awful pain and suffering that TB-infected badgers must go through.

They have no vets to treat them and unlike cattle that show a positive in regular testing, they are left to live the rest of their lives with this awful disease.

With no immediate prospect of a vaccination for either wildlife or cattle, why should animals of whatever species be left to die a painful death Alison Pratt, National Farmers’ Union, East Midlands.