The subject of tuberculosis, cattle and Badgers has rightly raised questions to test the science supporting the Government's announcement last week (letters, July 26). The Government considers this issue very carefully before you say it is minded to go ahead with a policy of Badger control. The decision was based on the advice of experts, which is now summarized in a book. The Government could not have taken a step without being satisfied that the most recent science supports his position. Why there will be a new consultation on the strict guidelines which would be used to grant licenses to control Badgers in areas highly infected before a final decision.
The NFU is clear that science clearly shows a link between the disease in cattle and badgers. We have never asserted that it is the only means of transmission, and is why we fully support the strict controls of cattle in place in England. The problem is that we are controlling the disease in cattle, but not Badgers.
If we merely expect vaccines are available, the disease will be even more out of control, must post in more areas and take even more time to eradicate. Badger controls never going to be popular. The NFU supports this difficult decision because it is right.
Peter Kendall
President, NFU
Article by Ben Goldacre ? on the eradication of bovine tuberculosis (July 23) brought sense to an ill-informed debate. But stated that approximately half of all infections in cattle comes from a source of Badger. The Badger trust is interested in knowing your reference for this assertion. Annex g of information meeting of the coalition Government for its public consultation on the eradication of cattle TB, he closed the month of December, said the exact number of cases of bovine TB in cattle caused by Badgers was not known. In fact, we are not aware of any number of proven cases of transmission in either direction.
David Williams
President, Badger trust
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