Skip to content
Network For Animals Logo
Network For Animals Logo
  • How we take action
    • Cats In Crisis
    • Disaster Relief
    • Dogs In Distress
    • Equine Care & Rescue
    • Ukraine War
    • Worldwide Donkey Crisis
  • News
  • About
    • Meet Our Team
    • Financials
    • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Donate
  • How we take action
    • Cats In Crisis
    • Disaster Relief
    • Dogs In Distress
    • Equine Care & Rescue
    • Ukraine War
    • Worldwide Donkey Crisis
  • News
  • About
    • Meet Our Team
    • Financials
    • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Donate
Donate now
  • How we take action
    • Cats In Crisis
    • Disaster Relief
    • Dogs In Distress
    • Equine Care & Rescue
    • Ukraine War
    • Worldwide Donkey Crisis
  • News
  • About
    • Meet Our Team
    • Financials
    • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Donate
Menu
  • How we take action
    • Cats In Crisis
    • Disaster Relief
    • Dogs In Distress
    • Equine Care & Rescue
    • Ukraine War
    • Worldwide Donkey Crisis
  • News
  • About
    • Meet Our Team
    • Financials
    • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Donate

Senior Vets and animal protection organisations call for George Eustice to withdraw his statement claiming that badger culling lowered bovine TB cases in cull zones.

  • October 20, 2018
  • News
  • United Kingdom

Dear editor,

We note Defra Minister George Eustice’s statement on 13th September (1) referring to epidemiological data on bovine TB (bTB) in cattle in badger culling zones (2). He claims that:

“Today’s figures showing reductions in TB cases in Somerset and Gloucestershire are evidence that our strategy for dealing with this slow moving, insidious disease is delivering results (1).”

Examination of that data in detail demonstrates no reduction in the prevalence of bTB infected herds in Gloucestershire or Somerset as a result of culling (2). Prevalence is a measure of the percentage of cattle herds in badger culling zones which have bTB, taken at a specific point in time. It involves relatively simple calculations, giving hard data, and is important for considerations of control. Prevalence is a measure of the force driving infection between animals within a herd, between adjacent herds and between distant herds (3).

The prevalence in cattle is no lower than it was before culling (2), despite the killing and removal of 1879 badgers in Gloucestershire and 1777 in Somerset. A total of 3656 badgers have been killed with no perceivable disease control benefits.

When ministerial statements are used as justification for the slaughter of badgers on an industrial scale across swathes of England, it is vital that they are accurate and reflect the best available veterinary and scientific advice.

The incidence rate is the calculated measure of new bTB breakdowns in herds, and Defra claim that it has fallen after four years of badger culling (2). The methods used to interrogate the raw data in order to divine this conclusion merit analysis. Defra use complex and sometimes obscure calculations to obtain the figures for incidence. These calculations have been made using data which are, by Defra’s own admission, unstable over time. The explanation of data set parameters (2) reveals that a conscious filtration of data was necessary over the four years of culling, with lost herds over time, new herds, merging herds, herds in existence and cohorts – the studied cattle exposed to badger culling – all subject to qualitative review and re-allocation for data purposes.

In addition to our reservations on analytical method, the measure of 100 herd years at risk is opaque, and impossible to confirm independently without raw data. The results of statistical analyses always vary dependent upon rules governing their choice of data set. We request that Defra release to us and other groups the data upon which their calculations for incidence and prevalence are based. Data generated by the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, which the Government cite as the basis for their policy, were made openly available for independent verification (3). The location and date of all bTB breakdowns is already publicly available via the Government’s own ibTB website (4).

Greater clarity can be obtained by focusing on prevalence rather than incidence. In Gloucestershire the prevalence was 11.9% three years before culling started, falling for three years without culling to 6.9%, before plateauing to 7.1% after four years of culling. In Somerset the prevalence was 17.2% three years before culling started, which then fell successively for three years without culling to 6.1% before plateauing to 7.2% after four years of culling. The prevalence values before culling and after culling are not significantly different. The additional free veterinary assistance and biosecurity advice farmers in cull zones have been given (5), when compared to farmers outside the zones, renders the badger cull’s failure to reduce bTB even more striking.

The only discernible qualitative trend from the data is a rapid decrease in prevalence in both cull zones in the three years before culling started. Badger culling is associated with the arrest of this steep decline and a plateauing of prevalence at that level.

One peculiar thing about these figures is that, although Defra maintain that the incidence has been falling steadily, the prevalence has remained the same. By now a persistent reduced incidence might be expected to translate into a lower prevalence but it has not. Perhaps there are confounding factors relating to the amalgamation or disappearance of problem herds. For example the number of cohort herds in Gloucestershire fell by 20.6% from 214 herds to 170 during the four years of culling. The number of cohort herds in Somerset fell by 18.8% from 154 to 125. That is a disappearance of approximately one fifth of herds exposed to badger culling in both areas. If these herds were culled out, or merged so that they collectively present one data point, this could seriously affect the accuracy of calculated incidence. Perhaps Defra could clarify exactly what happened to these 73 herds and what their bTB status was prior to disappearance. Please regard this as a Freedom of Information request under the appropriate legislation.

Put simply, there are approximately the same proportion of bTB affected herds now, as there were before culling started. Badger culling has not resulted in a decrease in bTB in cattle in cull zones, for the prevalence remains unchanged. Any statement made to the contrary is simply untrue.

The very title of Defra’s document is incorrect, claiming: “New data shows drop in bovine TB as further measures to fight disease unveiled”. There has been no such “drop in bovine TB” (2). Perhaps Mr Eustice or Mr Gove could kindly explain the total failure of four years of badger culling to lower the percentage of herds affected by bovine TB in culling zones.

The Zoological Society of London is in agreement with us, recently stating “Thus far there is no robust evidence that England’s policy of mass culling is reducing cattle TB. A minister’s claim that the approach is ‘delivering results’ is based upon a government report which states explicitly that it ‘cannot demonstrate whether the badger control policy is effective in reducing bovine TB in cattle’” (6). The omission of data from matched control areas not subject to badger culling (2) further invalidates the Government’s claims.

Widely published video footage of a cage-trapped badger which took a minute to die after being shot by a cull contractor (7) (8) was recently released and viewed by millions. There is now increasing public disquiet and disbelief at the violence and animal suffering associated with the badger cull. The badger cull has produced no measurable reduction in the percentage of bTB infected herds in cull zones, but has produced a well documented increase in badger harm. The policy clearly compromises badger welfare both as part of the Government sponsored cull (7) (8) (9) (10) and by the associated increases in sett tampering and the proliferation of animal abuse such as baiting lactating badgers with fighting dogs (11). Neither the veterinary profession nor the general public will tolerate such animal abuse in plain sight.

The data upon which Mr Eustice bases his statement provide no evidence whatsoever for his claimed “reductions in TB cases in Somerset and Gloucestershire”. We respectfully request that Mr Eustice withdraw his inaccurate statement and that, having consulted Mr Gove and Defra’s Chief Vet, he issue a corrected statement on a newly entitled document which accurately reflects bTB prevalence in cattle after four years of badger culling in Gloucestershire and Somerset.

When proven harm is committed to animals on a very large scale, accompanied by documented animal abuse and entirely unaccompanied by any disease control benefits, the only option for any responsible Government is to abandon the policy immediately.

Yours sincerely

Dr Iain McGill, BVetMed, BSc(Hons), MRCVS. Lead author VVNABC, Director Prion Interest Group.

Professor Andrew Knight MANZCVS, DipECAWBM (AWSEL), DipACAW, PhD, FRCVS, SFHEA. Professor of Animal Welfare and Ethics, University of Winchester; European & RCVS Veterinary
Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law; American & New Zealand Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare

Dr Andre Menache, BSc(Hons) BVSc Dip ECAWBM (AWSEL) MRCVS, European Veterinary Specialist in Animal Welfare Science, Ethics and Law.

Richard Saunders BSc (Hons) BVSc FRSB CBiol DZooMed (Mammalian) DipECZM (ZHM) MRCVS, RCVS Specialist in Zoo and Wildlife Medicine (Mammalian), EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Zoo Health Management

Bronwen Eastwood, BSc(Hons) CertGP(SAP) BVetMed MRCVS

Fiona Dalzell, BVSc BA(Hons) MVetMed, MRCVS

Phill Elliott BVM&S MSc(Wild Animal Health) MRCVS

Bev Irving, BVetMed, MRCVS

Dr Mark Jones, BVSc MSc (Stir) MSc (UL) MRCVS. Head of Policy at The Born Free Foundation

Philip Mansbridge, UK Director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)

Dominic Dyer, CEO of The Badger Trust

Dr Toni Shephard, PhD (Animal Behaviour), Executive Director of Animal Equality UK

Gloria Davies, Chief Executive of Network for Animals

Elisa Allen, Director, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

Adam Grogan BSc, MCIEEM, Head of Wildlife, Wildlife Department Science and Policy Group, RSPCA

References

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-data-shows-drop-in-bovine-tb-as-furthermeasures-to-fight-disease-unveiled

2. Bovine TB in cattle: badger control areas monitoring report For the period 2013 – 2017. September 2018 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment _data/file/740003/bovine-tb-in-cattle-badger-control-areas-monitoring-report-20132017.pdf

3. Bourne J (Chair) (2007) Bovine TB: The Scientific Evidence. Final report of the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB. Defra
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081108133322/http://www.defra.gov.uk/anim alh/tb/isg/pdf/final_report.pdf

4. http://ibtb.co.uk

5. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tb-advice-for-farmers-in-badger-cull-areas

6. Eradicating TB from cattle and badgers – a review of evidence Zoological Society of London – September 2018 https://www.zsl.org/sites/default/files/media/201809/ZSL_Eradicating_TB_Report_final_24Sep18.pdf

7. Doward J Secret filming reveals hidden cruelty of licensed badger culls. The Guardian, September 30th 2018 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/30/covert-footagereveals-cruelty-of-badger-culls

8. Culled badger took a minute to die, BBC News,1st October 2018 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-45703421

9. Munro R (Chair) Pilot Badger Culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire. Report by the Independent Expert Panel, March 2014 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_dat a/file/300382/independent-expert-panel-report.pdf

10. Anger at badger’s ‘cruel’ death in cull zone. BBC News September 23rd 2014 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-29315243

11. Dalton J (2018) Crime gangs selling badgers for up to £700 for baiting with dogs, fuelling high-stakes gambling https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/organised-crime-gangssell-badgers-baiting-dogs-betting-gambling-badger-cull-a8331736.html

By supporting our work, you are reaching out with caring hands to stop animal abuse

Please donate now
Stay up to date

Stay up to date

Share link

Pet Cats in Cape Town Cover Nearly 20km per Day in Summer but Don’t Like Winter

Domestic cats in Cape Town, South Africa, roam up to 18 kilometers (11 miles) a day during the city’s warmer months, spending a great deal

24 March 2023

A Dog, Three Newborn Pups, Rescued from Rubble in Turkey

Almost a month after earthquakes wreaked havoc in Turkey’s southern province of Hatay, a two-year-old Doberman named Sila and her three newborn puppies miraculously emerged

19 March 2023

The Truth About Cats’ Domestication And Why They Really Quite Like Us

Cats and dogs are the most popular pets in the world, yet the two are completely different in terms of their interactions with us. Unlike

11 March 2023

Your Donations In ACTION: February 2023

Global disasters once again made headlines in February as devastating earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, and animals were victims of the turmoil. As always, we

5 March 2023

Help us fight cruelty to animals around the world

Click here to donate

Network for Animals

Network for Animals is a non-government, international animal welfare organization crusading for animals around the world.

© Network for Animals
Terms and conditions/ Privacy policy
Cookie policy

Campaigns

Cats In Crisis Disaster Relief Dogs In Distress Equine Care & Rescue Ukraine War Worldwide Donkey Crisis

Stay up to date

Receive our regular emails about our campaigns for animals around the world.

Sign up

Sign up to our newsletter

Contact us

UK: +44 (0)20 8471 7666
USA: +1 727 599 8148
South Africa: 
+ 27 21 794 9149
+ 264 81 653186

info@networkforanimals.org

Facebook-f Twitter Youtube Instagram Linkedin
Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter

Donate
This website uses cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Powered by CookieYes Logo

Lisa-Mari Spence

Leadership Gifts Officer

Lisa-Mari was raised in South Africa and joined the NFA team as the UK fundraiser after relocating to Greece. With a background in public relations and a passion for helping animals her role at NFA is a perfect match.

Alissa Ford

Director of Leadership Gifts, USA

Alissa is the Director of Leadership Gifts in the United States. She has a background in nonprofit fundraising and marketing, but believes all paths led her to Network for Animals, where she is able to combine her professional experience with her personal passion for animal welfare. Alissa lives in Boston, Massachusetts with her husband and her fur-baby Ollie, who is treated like the prince he thinks he is, since his human brother and sister are grown and now living on their own. Alissa loves speaking to our supporters who she truly considers a community of fellow animal lovers.