BVA pledges support for new badger cull pilots

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has pledged its support for the second year of pilot badger culls in England.

Advice has been provided by the association to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as it seeks to make improvements to the humaneness and effectiveness of the culls, based on the recommendations of an independent expert panel.

Having failed to reach the required standards during the first year, Defra has changed its approach, meaning shotguns will no longer be used for controlled shooting, while contractor selection, training and assessment will be enhanced.

Meanwhile, the number of field observations of shooting and postmortem examinations of badgers will be maintained, with real-time information to ensure a better distribution of effort and the removal of poor-performing marksmen from the field.

BVA president Robin Hargreaves said: "I'm proud that the veterinary profession has had such a significant influence on Defra's position and we will continue to engage with the government to ensure the pilot culls are humane and effective."

The BVA believes the culls are necessary to limit the spread of bovine tuberculosis, which costs the livestock industry and the government millions of pounds a year.