Badger cull is needed in battle to halt TB

A WORSENING bovine TB problem in parts of Galway will not be resolved until a controlled cull of the badger population is put in place, according to a prominent IFA representative.

Connacht IFA Chair and Ardrahan farmer, Pat Murphy, told the Farming Tribune that despite the best efforts of farmers bovine TB was on the increase in parts of the county.

He said that in recent years, he had been one of the farmers impacted upon by the rise in the incidence of TB   the problem was still quite serious in parts of South Galway, he added.

“There is only so much farmers can do in terms of fencing, water troughs, hygiene and co-operating with the Department in a badger vaccination programme.

“From my own experience – and that of many farmers I’ve spoken to and dealt with over recent years – I feel that unless that a controlled badger cull is carried out, our battle against bovine TB will continue to be a lost cause,” said Pat Murphy.

He said he wanted to make it quite clear that there was no question of farmers trying to ‘wipe out’ badgers but given that they had no natural predators, their numbers needed to be curtailed.

“I believe that even for the good of the badger population, it would be better if the diseased animals were taken out: they will end up having a slow and cruel death.

“The vaccination programme is not working – and has not worked in the past – we just have to face up to that reality.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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