TB Report Offers No Solutions
UK - The Ulster Farmers’ Union says a scientific report to DEFRA, suggesting that dealing with the TB reservoir in wildlife would not be economically justifiable, has offered no meaningful solutions in tackling the ongoing TB problem in agriculture.
20 June 2007
1 minute read
UFU President Kenneth Sharkey said; “It is very significant that the scientific report to DEFRA has acknowledged that there is a link between badgers and bovine TB. This is compelling evidence that the wildlife reservoir has to be addressed. Otherwise it seems pointless to keep testing and slaughtering farm animals, because the disease will continue to re-emerge in our livestock from wildlife sources. Continuing to allow the disease to spread in the badger population is not a wildlife friendly outcome either”.
Kenneth Sharkey said tough decisions would now have to be made in Northern Ireland to urgently address the industry’s TB problem.
Mr Sharkey said; “We must find a solution to this and the Government must introduce a radically new strategy to eradicate TB from the industry. Conflicting evidence has emerged in that UK scientists believe a targeted badger cull would not be economical, while in the Republic of Ireland a targeted badger cull is contributing effectively to a significant reduction in the incidence of the disease. Government must quickly decide on the best way to tackle the wildlife reservoir, as this still holds the key to solving this costly crisis in the industry”.
For more information on Bovine Tuberculosis, click here.
Alternatively, go to our previous news item on the badger cull debate by clicking here.
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