I SEE with sadness but no surprise that once again Environment Secretary Liz Truss and DEFRA are attempting to hoodwink the public over the badger cull.

To hail something “a success” before any scientific evaluation has taken place is definitely theorising ahead of data.

The whole statement seems based on the old Yes Minister trick of using a lot of words to say very little, along with the other trick of issuing it on the last day of parliament so that no debate can follow.

The only fact is that over 700 badgers in Dorset were slaughtered.

We will never know whether any of these animals were carrying disease as those responsible were prepared to spend huge amounts of public money to kill them but not go the extra mile and test them afterwards.

Perhaps because they already know what the answer would be?

This cull took place against the advice of scientific and wildlife experts who predicted it would do little to curb the spread of bovine TB, which is mainly transmitted from cattle to cattle.

I see that Ms Truss also announced increased testing of cattle after they have been moved, a plan which is far more likely to help combat the disease.

In Wales, where there has been no badger culling, TB figures have been halved due to increased testing and bio security measures.

It is not just the public who are being let down, it is also farmers whose livelihoods are at stake. This cull is just a placebo, and the longer it continues the worse the TB situation will become. Carrying on with it will lead to a country sadly free of badgers, but not TB.

Surely the time has come to treat the disease at source, ie cattle?

Many human diseases have been eradicated due to vaccines, without the need to slaughter most of them!

Yet when it comes to cattle and vaccines it seems it really IS rocket science... Or do I mean politics?

Karin Snellock Martinstown