Stephen Williams's views on badger culling and tackling bovine TB

It is clear that the incidence of Bovine TB is increasing rapidly in certain parts of the country, most notably the South West and South Wales. It is also clear that there is a triangular infection route, namely cattle-cattle, cattle-badger, and badger-cattle. It follows therefore that any sensible policy to deal with Bovine TB has to consider of all three transmission routes.

In respect of cattle-cattle transmission, I agree that this is a major source of the infection being spread and the Liberal Democrats have advocated the introduction of pre-movement testing of cattle and indeed also post-movement testing of cattle. I also think we need to try to minimise extended movements of cattle where possible, which is one of the reasons why the Liberal Democrats have advocated the reintroduction of local abattoirs, to avoid the very long journeys which are now made, to the detriment of both the animal, the farmer and the environment.

In respect of badger-cattle transmissions, it is certainly very unhelpful that no test exists to determine the presence of TB in live badgers and this has undoubtedly made matters worse. The absence of any vaccine for cattle is also a serious drawback and my colleagues on the Liberal Democrat front bench have regularly pushed Ministers for more work to be done on this front. In the meantime I am personally not convinced that there is a case for a cull of badgers from infected areas. There are other measures significantly less harmful to animal welfare and the ecosystem of our countryside that should be put in place before we even consider a cull of wildlife.