Farming and veterinary experts at the event took on the subject shortly after MPs backed the government package of bovine TB measures, which includes pilot culls, in Westminster.
Arguing in favour of the cull was Gloucester vet Roger Blowey and dairy farmer Phil Latham, whose herd has been affected by the disease. Mr Latham said the financial and emotional impact of having his cattle hit by bovine TB had been a “devastating” experience.
“I cannot explain how devastating that is to have to cattle removed due to bovine TB,” he said.
“The disease is quite definitely out of control and spreading rapidly in the UK.
“Badgers are part of the problem and there is no doubt that culling them will reduce it. The case for culling is completely proven.”
Vet Elizabeth Mullineaux and ex-farmer Pauline Kidner took the counter argument in a debate chaired by the environmentalist Jonathan Porritt.
Ms Mullineaux called the badger cull a “crazy scheme”, claiming the displacing of the creatures it would cause, known as ‘perturbation’, would actually lead to a rise in instances of bovine TB in areas on the fringes of cull zones. Pauline Kidner called for a focus on vaccinating cattle and badgers.
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