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BVA 'can no longer support' controlled shooting
badger
Independent monitoring of the first year of the culls found they failed on humaneness and effectiveness.
Calls for a badger cull roll-out using cage trapping and shooting

After two years of badger culling, the BVA says it 'can no longer support the continued use of controlled shooting', as the pilot culls have failed to demonstrate that this method can be used effectively and humanely.

Instead, the association is calling for a wider roll-out of the culls using cage trapping and shooting.

Criticism of the badger culls in Somerset and Gloucestershire has been fuelled by an independent report on the first year of the culls, which found they had failed on humaneness and effectiveness.

While the BVA Council has decided to withdraw its support for controlled shooting, the association's president, John Blackwell, said: "BVA remains convinced that if we are to tackle this disease then we need to control the infection in the wildlife population, and badger culling must form part of the comprehensive strategy for tackling bovine TB."

He adds that the spread of bovine TB in cattle and wildlife is having "an unacceptable impact on animal health and welfare" and poses a threat to human health too.

For this reason, the BVA is urging the next government to commit to a TB strategy that makes use of all the tools at our disposal - including badger culling in Somerset and Gloucestershire, and other areas where badgers are believed to contribute to high incidence of TB in cattle.

The comprehensive eradication strategy should also encompass biosecurity, surveillance and control of cattle and non-bovines (e.g. camelids), badger vaccination, and researching improved diagnostics, a cattle vaccine, oral badger vaccine and alternative, humane badger control methods.

BVA says cage trapping and shooting was 'tried and tested' in the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, which found the method can offer a safe, humane and effective cull.

Mr Blackwell concluded: "In the public debate on badger culling and bovine TB, we are in danger of losing sight of the many other important control measures being applied."

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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.