TB

Thankfully, in Yorkshire we don't have a serious TB problem, but elsewhere the debate is getting well and truly heated. The NFBG (National Federation of Badger Groups) write:

"Since the early 1970's, badgers have been blamed for infecting cattle with bovine TB (bTB) and over 30,000 badgers have been killed by the government's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAFF). But there is no conculsive proof of a link and most badgers are not even infected with bTB. Killing badgers has failed and bTB in cattle has only increased.

The government is now killing thousands more badgersin a controversial experiment to find out whether killing badgers can reduce bTB in cattle. Hundreds of badgers have already been killed, and the slaughter is set to continue for several years.

Everybody knows that people get the human form of TB when they live in poor quality housing, with poor diets and too much stress. The NFBG believes cattle to get TB for the same reason. We believe it is wrong to kill badgers when other potential solutions to the bTB problem have still not properly been researched. The government claims that their experiment resulted from a 'thorough' investigation of the bTB problem by Proffesor John Krebs (author of 'The Krebs Report'). In reality, Proffesor Krebs has admitted he had neither the time or expertise to consider the most obvious alternative solution to bTB: better cattle husbandry. That means better cattle management, heatlth and hygiene.

The government has always focused it's attention on killing badgers, and it hasn't worked. Positive solutions are needed urgently and must meet four criteria:

      1) They must be practical for farmers
      2) They must be acceptable to the public
      3) They must be humane for livestock
      4) They must be caring towards wildlife and the environment

The government's persistent focus on badgers in impractical, unpopular, inhumane, and disastrous for wildlife.

The NFBG believes that the causes of disease in cattle are not black and white. That's why we are campaigning against the cull, and pressing for positive solutions. We very much hope you will take the time to find out about the issues, and help us with our campaign."

So what can you do. Well a fantastic help would be tom

For more information visit:   The NFBG website

                                         www.badgers.org.uk