BVA reiterates support for badger cull

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has once again stated its support for the government's badger culling scheme, which formally commenced at the start of this month.

Responding to protest activity among those who oppose the cull, the organisation has called on dissenters to allow the necessary scientific work to take place unhindered in the two pilot cull areas.

It is the BVA's belief that evidence suggesting that bovine tuberculosis rates can be reduced by around 16 percent in areas where a targeted, humane badger cull has taken place means that this initiative is necessary.

The association hopes that the pilot culls can demonstrate whether controlled shooting can deliver the needed outcome as effectively as cage trapping and shooting.

Peter Jones, president of the BVA, said: "We understand that this is a highly emotional issue but we must be able to gather the evidence to enable future policy decisions to be based on science."

According to BVA data released earlier this year, the number of cattle slaughtered in Britain as reactors or direct contacts to bovine tuberculosis increased by 10 percent to 37,753 in 2012.