Blackwell Synergy - Cookie Absent (rather odd title)
This is an interesting letter, which raises the possibility of other sources of infection of bTB in closed herds such as by birds. There are still unknowns about the bacterium and its behaviour. All the infectious diseases of the last hundred years in people have only been brought under control by either vaccination or antibiotics. It will probably be the same for bTB.
Badgers rarely die from the disease and can carry it without symptoms. If there are 3 healthy
Badgers for every one carrying it, then a disproportionate number of healthy animals will need to be removed. It depends then on your value system, as others have posted, as to how much killing it is worth to produce your piece of beef. Some find this acceptable and others don't. It may be about economics, but it is still unacceptable to many taxpayers who are the ones who will be paying for a cull. A cull is not going to bring about TB eradication in cattle. Even the Welsh Assembly acknowledge that.