Link Manager: Zoe Davies
In August 2019, Link published its response to Professor Sir Charles Godfray's review of the Government's bovine TB eradication strategy. We welcomed many of the conclusions made in the Godfray report, including the need for greater emphasis on controlling the disease in cattle through measures such as improved testing and mandatory risk-based trading. Furthermore, we strongly support Prof. Sir Godfray's conclusion that it is highly desirable to move to non-lethal methods of wildlife control. We are urging Government to implement a large-scale trial of badger vaccination that includes areas with no recent history of culling, to determine the efficacy of vaccination on reducing TB in cattle without any conflating effects.
Despite the Godfray report being published over a year ago (November 2018), Government has still not published its response and the general election has delayed this further. Meanwhile, the ineffective, inhumane and costly badger cull continues unabated, with an additional 10 cull zones being added in 2019. We will make it a priority to work with the new Government on bringing the cull to an end.
Last Updated: 2 December 2019
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