Badgers and Bovine TB Virtual Sub-group

Secretary: Fiona Llewellyn

This group follows the progress of the Government’s decision with regard to the culling of Badgers to control Bovine TB. Link recognises that bovine TB in cattle is a significant issue for livestock farmers and we support the need to find effective measures to reduce the impact of this disease and a significant reduction in the incidence and spread of bovine TB in cattle. The badgers & bTB sub-group calls on Government to ensure that any measures introduced to tackle bovine TB in cattle be legal, sustainable, based on sound science and publicly acceptable. This group operates virtually, communicating via email when necessary and not holding regular meetings.

QUARTERLY UPDATE: April to June 2009

In April, the Welsh Assembly Government launched a consultation on the Tuberculosis Eradication (Wales) Order 2009 under the Animal Health Act 1981 following the Welsh Assembly Government’s decision in March to undertake a cull of badgers in North Pembrokeshire. While Link is not submitting a response, a number of Link members will be.

The group has maintained a watching brief on Defra’s Bovine TB Eradication Group and will continue to do so over the coming months.