RABDF disgusted at Defra’s alleged bTB decision

The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has acted angrily to Defra's alleged decision against a badger cull in England to control bTB in cattle.

"We are disgusted at the news reported by the BBC earlier today that the policy announcement to be made by Defra minister Hilary Benn to government on Monday will allegedly go against the former chief scientific adviser, Sir David King's recommendations for a badger cull in areas where there is 'a high and persistent incidence of bTB, provided removal takes place alongside an effective programme of cattle controls'," commented RABDF chairman, Lyndon Edwards. "The gloves are off. Farmers will start to refuse to co-operate to Defra's bTB measures and who can blame them," he said. "Surely it is both humane and legal to put down an animal that is sick and suffering.

"I believe that Mr Benn has missed a massive opportunity to control bTB in both badgers and cattle. He claimed at a media briefing at the Royal Show, today, that Defra's decision to be announced on Monday has taken in 'public acceptance', however I believe that the public would be shocked at its total disregard for basic animal welfare if it was truly aware of the suffering incurred by infected badgers, never mind the fact bTB has already led this year to a cull of 40,000 cattle.

"Furthermore Mr Benn confirmed that his decision making process had taken in the Independent Scientific Group (ISG) report published last year which RABDF has argued was flawed from the start. "It very clearly stated that 'the ISG was directed by Ministers at the outset of the Randomised Badger Culling Trials that the elimination of badgers from large tracts of the countryside was politically unacceptable'. How can this possibly be accepted as independent unbiased research, when the Government has clearly placed shackles on the results before the work began?"

Mr Edwards has first hand experience of bTB on his own 200 cow herd based at Chepstow; 70 cows have been culled in the last three years. "bTB is the biggest nightmare facing my own and neighbouring farm businesses," he said. "Added to the angst is the fact we farm very close the Welsh border. The Welsh Assembly has demonstrated it has the spine to tackle the issue having already rolled out a control and eradication policy."