FARMERS are preparing for a possible controversial badger cull in Dorset.

The Echo understands a group of Dorset farmers have applied to Natural England to cull badgers in the coming months in a bid to eradicate bovine tuberculosis (TB) among cattle in the county.

No decision on whether the cull will go ahead has been made and the applications are still being processed, but if it is successful, it could begin as early as late summer or early autumn this year. Farmers in Devon and Cornwall have also applied for licences, the Echo understands.

If given the go ahead, the culling licences in the three counties will be in addition to the third year of culling in Somerset and Gloucestershire are, which is set to start its third year of culling soon.

An estimated 30,000 cows a year are slaughtered because they have contracted bovine TB, with around 1,300 herds in the south west affected.

Farmers and industry leaders have called for the culls for a number of years, but anti badger cull campaigners say that a safer, more effective and more humane method way of eradicating the disease is to vaccinate badgers and cows.

Trevor Cligg, chairman of the Dorset NFU branch, said farmers would welcome the cull and had been preparing for the cull to come into action for some time.

He said: “We think this cull is about 20 years too late, but it’s better late than never.

“Bovine TB is a huge issue, not just in Dorset but right across the south west,where there is a significant amount of cattle and culling badgers will reduce the levels of it."

He added: “We don’t want to do it, but we are desperate to control and get rid of the disease, not badgers.

“We are convinced that badgers are implicated in the spread of bovine TB and reducing the population of badgers will have a significant impact on the levels of the disease."

“Farmers are ready for the cull, we have been ready and preparing for the cull for a long time and hopefully it will get the go ahead.”

A licence is needed to cull badgers because they are a protected species. If the licences are approved, it will go to a public consultation before any decisions on timings are made.

The cull has proved incredibly controversial, with marred by violent scenes between protesters and those carrying out the cull during the initial roll-out of the pilots in Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Karin Snellock, a member of the Dorset Bovine and Badger Welfare Group, said the group “strongly oppose” the possible cull.

She said: “We think it’s a complete waste of time.

“Every bit of scientific evidence shows that vaccination is the way to stop bovine TB, not culling badgers. We are just as keen to eradicate Bovine TB, we have a lot of sympathy for farmers but we think they are being hoodwinked into believing culling is the only way.

“It’s both an animal welfare issue and scientific. In Wales they have had a vaccination program for five years which has halved the Bovine TB rates.

“Badger culling is very expensive and in a time of economic austerity we do not believe money should be spent on this, they should be channelling the money to control the disease.”

 

CAMPAIGNERS who believe vaccination is the best way to beat bovine tuberculosis have received a fresh funding boost.

The Dorset Badger Vaccination Project (DBVP) has received a grant from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), which will help it to carry on its badger vaccination programme in the county.

The DBVP was formed last year by volunteers to offer a free badger vaccination service to local farmers and landowners, and in 2014 they vaccinated 87 badgers across more than a dozen sites in the county.

A spokesman for IFAW said the organisation could not reveal how much the grant was, but that it would allow vaccinations to continue across Dorset.

Joe Hashman, director at DBVP, said: “We would like to thank IFAW for its generous donation towards our badger vaccination programme. Without extra funding we would not have been able to continue after 2015.

“This donation is very welcome, and also means that we can buy essential pieces of equipment to help us in our work.”

UK Director of IFAW, Philip Mansbridge, said: “The Dorset Badger Vaccination Project offers a reliable and free service to farmers and landowners who want badgers on their land vaccinated. Through this programme, the group has built up a strong network of landowners and vets who view vaccination as an alternative to the prospect of badger culling.

“IFAW is strongly opposed to the Government’s badger cull.”

If farmers or landowners want to speak to the group about carrying out badger vaccinations on their land, please call 07503 691765.