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Build on TB eradication plan, urges CLA
cows
CLA calls for the government to continue the badger culls and work towards lifting farm movement restrictions.
Land owner association releases manifesto for the next government

A membership organisation for land owners has called on candidates in next year's general election to build upon the 25-year bovine TB (bTB) eradication plan and continue with badger culling as part of a wider strategy.

Members of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) own and manage half of the rural land in England and Wales.

The organisation has released a manifesto for the 2015 elections – titled “Unlock the Countryside's Potential” – setting out recommendations to election candidates.

It states that while the government's bTB strategy is “challenging” it offers a “realistic and holistic long-term view” to rid England of the disease.

Cattle slaughters due to bTB totalled 38,000 in 2011. The disease is thought to have cost the British taxpayer around £500million over the past decade – a figure estimated to rise to £1billion over the next 10 years.

The CLA said it welcomed last year's badger culls as part of a “wider science-based strategy” and calls on the next government to continue with trial culls.

After Liz Truss recently replaced Owen Paterson as environment secretary, she announced that the badger culls would continue in Gloucestershire and Somerset. It is reported that she also recently confirmed Natural England will monitor the culls.

Last year's pilot culls were found to be ineffective and inhumane by an independent expert panel (IEP) and have long been controversial. The Badger Trust was recently granted a judicial review of the legality of conducting the culls without an IEP to monitor them.  

In its manifesto, the CLA says it supports the continuation of the culls as part of a wider strategy “based on the latest scientific evidence.”

It also calls on the next government to engage with stakeholders to work towards the removal of farm movement restrictions, while ensuring traceability and food safety.

Read the CLA's full manifesto: www.cla.org.uk

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.