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Defra extends badger cull consultation
The constulation has been extended by three weeks.
The government wants to keep culling as an option in fight against bTB.

A public consultation on retaining badger culling as part of the government’s bovine tuberculosis (bTB) eradication strategy for England has been extended by three weeks.

Originally due to end on 22 April 2024, the consultation will now close on 13 May 2024. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says that it has extended the deadline in order to give people more time to reply.

The proposals would see badger culling kept as an option in areas where there are high levels of cattle infections and evidence suggesting that badgers are playing a role in spreading the disease. The culls would be reviewed annually by the UK’s chief veterinary officer.

The proposals also include plans to extend badger vaccination programmes, including in areas where badger culling has ended. The government aims to eradicate bTB in England by 2038.

Lawyers representing the animal welfare organisations Badger Trust and Wild Justice recently wrote to Defra arguing that the consultation is unlawful due to omissions in the consultation materials provided. Defra has responded directly to the letter.

Badger Trust has claimed the extension to the consultation is a result of their actions.

Peter Hambly, executive director of Badger Trust, said: “Extending the response time for a flawed consultation is a start, and it wouldn’t have happened without the challenge by Badger Trust and Wild Justice.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.