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Wales Stands alone on “pointless” Badger Cull
posted on 08/07/2008

On the day that Defra Minister Hillary Benn rejects a cull of badgers, local Assembly Member and animal welfare champion Lorraine Barrett, criticises the Assembly Government's proposal for a targeted cull in Wales as “a pointless waste of time and a squandering of tax-payers money.”

UK Ministers instead stated that they were following scientific evidence and the recommendations of the Independent Scientific Group on TB in Cattle - which concluded that culling badgers would not be economical but could actually make the spread of the disease worse.

Lorraine Barrett AM, who recently received the Lord Erskine Award from the RSPCA in recognition of her contribution to animal welfare, welcomed the news from England.

Speaking on today’s announcement Lorraine said:

"I’m delighted that Defra has shown some sense and Ministers have decided to follow the science. Bovine TB is a very serious condition for cattle and for cattle farmers, right across the UK.

"In the republic of Ireland we have seen a systematic cull of badgers, virtually eliminating them from most areas, but that has failed to address the high incidences of Bovine TB there.

"What is needed is an effective and sustainable solution to tackle the disease – better animal husbandry and farming practices combined with tighter restrictions on cattle movements are the best way to deal with it.

"It’s embarrassing that Wales is proposing to go forward with a targeted cull. Aside from the animal welfare issues for both badgers and cattle, a cull is an unforgivable waste of money and time."