Vets frustrated by no independent assessment of badger culls

The minutes of a meeting of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), which has publicly backed culling to tackle bovine tuberculosis if it is effective and humane, show members of its ethics and welfare group believed support should not continue without independent analysis of the Government’s scheme. The second year of two pilot culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset have just taken place.

John Blackwell, BVA president, said: “It is no secret that some of our members are frustrated by the lack of independent analysis this year and we are disappointed that it has not been put in place to give confidence to our members and the wider public. We have made it very clear to Defra that our ongoing support should not be taken for granted and that we will make our own assessment of the data when it is published.”