We must consider all the facts on bovine TB
As a livestock farmer living with the ever-present bovine TB threat, I have grown tired and frustrated by inaccurate claims that the pilot badger culls will make the situation worse, writes Rob Alderson.
These pilot culls have taken lessons learned from previous culls and applied them to ensure that potential disease spread (the perturbation effect) is kept to an absolute minimum.
The areas involved are larger and are bordered by hard boundaries, like motorways, main roads and coast so there is minimal risk of any diseased badgers spreading TB to other areas.
Any further lessons learned will be of vital importance in ensuring the success of any future roll-out in areas where TB is rife, like Shropshire.
Therefore it is crucial the pilot culls are given the best chance of making the biggest impact on this disease.
The chief vet has said that culling over a four-year period in both areas will help to reduce TB in cattle.
We first went down with the disease back in 2002. We had no animals coming in, a closed herd, so we know it came from the wildlife population.
Working with cattle day in day out you get to know their personalities, and to see them taken away for slaughter when they had potentially long breeding lives ahead of them, is heartbreaking.
When the vet gives you that news you know your day-to-day business has changed dramatically. It's soul-destroying, and knowing it can happen again and again because of the problem in the wildlife population just makes it worse.
It's important to remember that culling is only one part of a 25-year government strategy to eradicate this disease from our country.
Cattle testing, cattle movement controls, and vaccination of both cattle and badgers all have key roles to play as well, but without tackling the disease reservoir in wildlife as well we will never get rid of it.
Bovine TB is devastating farming businesses in Shropshire and counties across the country and the Government should be applauded for taking action.
No one wants to see it spread further and cause even more misery.
At one time I had a 240-strong beef herd here but now we're down to fewer than 90 animals and I can't justify bringing healthy animals into my business knowing they could succumb to an awful disease that is running rife in the countryside.
As an industry we're doing what we can, and unless you've lived with the emotional devastation this disease can cause you can't fully appreciate its impact.
I would urge the public to consider all the facts on bovine TB.
* Rob Alderson is a livestock farmer in Craven Arms.
