Panel ready to begin review of bovine TB
A NEW panel of experts that will carry out Wales's review of scientific evidence on the eradication of bovine tuberculosis has been announced.
Five professors will team up with Wales's chief scientific adviser, Professor John Harries, and the recently appointed chairman of the panel Professor Christopher Gaskell.
Prof Gaskell is principal of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.
He said: "I am very pleased with the make-up of the panel.
"It brings together a range of experience and perspectives which will allow us to make a full and proper assessment of the evidence base that informed the programme for the eradication of bovine TB."
He added: "I very much look forward to working with the panel in taking forward this important work on what is undoubtedly a difficult area."
A cull of badgers — blamed by many farmers for spreading the disease — in West Wales was put on hold in June for an examination of the science.
Lord Krebs, who wrote a report on badger culling in 1997, said last month that killing badgers was "simply an ineffective way of controlling the disease".
The Welsh panel's report is due to be completed by the autumn.
4 Comments
by TaipeiSteve
Monday, August 08 2011, 3:20PM
“The government has responded to bovine TB with the predictable, and somewhat medieval, slash and burn technique. As we always eradicate anything that can cause any slight problem in cattle, they never have the opportunity to develop natural immunity and so there is always risk from any passing disease. Personally, I feel more should be invested in raising the health standards of farm animals. Like humans, if cattle are strong and healthy they will be less susceptible to disease. Unfortunately, nowadays, short-term profit is the driving force of the farming industry, and so increasing meat and milk production is the priority, not creating fit and robust animals.
Anyway, this is the prospective of someone who has spent his whole life in large cities. I'd be happy if someone could point out any errors in my observations and conclusions.
As for the badgers, I strongly oppose this proposed cull. Not only do I believe it will not produce long term benefits to the cattle industry, but biodiversity is essential to the well-being of the countryside. We should not eradicate every animal that causes trouble to domestic animals, but instead strive to find ways that each can live together without causes problems.”
by deridu
Monday, August 08 2011, 1:01PM
“Leave our badgers alone...
Vaccination is the way to go...easy answer. so why are`nt they doing this?????
I hear England have slaughtering badgers too”
by Moneybox3
Sunday, August 07 2011, 4:12PM
“I'm with the wonderful Brian May on this one.”
by magwand
Saturday, August 06 2011, 7:12PM
“why has no-one mentioned contaminated ground that the tb virus can survive on for up to 10 years. Which is probably how the badgers got it in the first place. So no matter how many badgers you kill its not going to sort out the contaminated ground.”