The new was published on 18 March 2022 by Vet Record.
The Vet Record journal is editorially independent from the British Veterinary Association.
A Defra spokesperson said: 鈥淭his paper has been produced to fit a clear campaign agenda and manipulates data in a way that makes it impossible to see the actual effects of badger culling on reducing TB rates. It is disappointing to see it published in a scientific journal.鈥�
Read a blog piece about this from Chief Vet Christine Middlemiss on the Defra website:
Bovine TB 鈥� devastating for farming families
NFU Deputy President Tom Bradshaw said: 鈥�Bovine TB continues to have a huge impact on thousands of farming families across the country. The emotional, mental and financial strain this devastating disease causes is enormous.
鈥淭he current government strategy to control and eradicate TB has given many farming families and their businesses much-needed relief since it was introduced. We continue to stress that any decisions to tackle bovine TB must be based on sound science and evidence.
鈥淲e are aware of this new paper and strongly concur with the government鈥檚 Chief Vet and Chief Scientific Advisers鈥� disagreement with both the methodology used and its resulting conclusions.
鈥淔igures from peer-reviewed research in the Downs report, which looked at the effectiveness of badger culling to reduce TB in cattle in Gloucestershire and Somerset, demonstrated reductions in herd breakdowns of 66% and 37% respectively."
