As I watched Brian May’s riveting documentary, “Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers and Me,” I was left with a profound sense of awe and disbelief. This is not just another documentary; it’s a testament to a man who has dedicated four years of his life to uncovering the truth about badger culling and bovine TB.
This article was originally published in TopMob magazine.
In the four-year production process of my documentary about badger culling, audiences may find the content more shocking and upsetting compared to anything they’ve seen since the uncovering of the Post Office scandal.
You’ll uncover the monumental inability of British authorities to address the devastating issue of bovine TB, leading to the regrettable culling of countless cattle and badgers. Over the years, our research findings, which challenge traditional beliefs, are groundbreaking and may be considered controversial by some. I suspect they will ultimately transform farming practices drastically.
Over the past twelve years, approximately a quarter of a million badgers have been killed due to the belief that they transmit TB to cattle. However, according to farmers featured in my documentary, this policy has proven disastrous for them. The incidence of infection and subsequent number of cows slaughtered are not improving and, in certain regions, are even worse than before.
At Gatcombe Farm in Devon, instead of engaging in disputes with farmers about the issue, Anne Brummer (CEO of animal welfare charity Save Me Trust) and I have taken on the role of farmers ourselves. We’ve successfully transformed Robert Reid’s dairy herd, which was chronically infected, into a healthy herd that has earned TB-Free certification, all without harming a single badger.
It’s clear from our own research findings that attributing the problems to badgers was an incorrect interpretation of the facts. How on earth did such a misunderstanding arise?
A single scientific study, carried out under controlled conditions, has investigated if killing badgers could eliminate bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle. The definitive outcome of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, conducted in 2007, was that eliminating badgers does not offer any significant help in managing bovine TB in cattle.
Despite these circumstances, various governments and the National Farmers Union have persisted in believing they possess superior knowledge. They’ve relied on the counsel of a compact team of scientists who have either reported enhancements in cattle wellbeing post-culling or proposed models suggesting such improvements theoretically.
At Gatcombe, we strongly believe that the notion that badgers contribute significantly to the re-infection process is misguided, serving as a major distraction from developing an effective plan to control the spread of the pathogen among livestock.
We’ve developed a plan, which we call the “Gatcombe Protocol,” to eliminate this disease from cattle in just a few years. This plan includes more thorough testing to identify infected animals earlier and meticulous cleanliness to remove cow manure before it spreads the disease within the herd. This gives hope where there seems to be none, particularly among farming communities who have lost faith.
Which party in this documentary presents a credible perspective? For the first time, an opposing viewpoint is being shared with the general audience. Naturally, our assertions may face criticism, and efforts might be taken to undermine our standpoints. However, it’s up to the public to form their opinions, and ultimately, history will render its verdict.
It’s quite astonishing to make such a bold claim against an extensive body of scientific research, isn’t it? After all, just a hundred years ago, numerous studies were conducted by esteemed scientists about the canals on Mars, only for it to be eventually confirmed that they didn’t actually exist.
In the 19th century, Queen Victoria’s doctor challenged and disproved the widely accepted theory that cholera spread through the air, which was believed by many scholars. A hundred years prior to this, people still practiced the brutal act of burning witches, convinced they were causing our troubles.
In pursuing the tragic badger cull, which has always been morally indefensible, we believe that science has made one of the biggest and most costly mistakes in history – hanging on to a policy that, in time, will be seen as no more effective than burning those unfortunate witches.
Responses:
The president of NFU, Tom Bradshaw, stated that Bovine Tuberculosis (bTB) is still causing a massive impact on countless farming families nationwide. The emotional, mental, and financial toll this devastating disease inflicts is immense. Over 19,500 cattle were killed in England during the year up to September 2023 due to bTB.
The existing approach by the government to combat and eliminate bovine Tuberculosis, offering farmers various methods to fight off the disease, has proven highly effective. Fresh data from the Birch Review reinforces this success, showing a 56% decrease in TB cases among herds that have experienced four or more years of wildlife management. The newly appointed Defra secretary of state recognizes these achievements and emphasizes the need to keep up the pace.
“I’ll persistently collaborate with my fellow members and the government, aiming to maintain a robust, evidence-based approach in our ongoing mission to eliminate bovine TB. The strategy must always be grounded in solid scientific findings.”
A Defra representative stated, “We acknowledge that bovine TB brings tremendous hardship to the farming community. That’s why we are dedicated to collaborating with farmers and researchers in finding ways to eliminate this illness.”
As a passionate cinema-goer, I’m thrilled to share that our administration is planning an all-out campaign to eliminate Tuberculosis (TB). This strategy encompasses vaccinations for both animals and humans, responsible management of livestock herds, and stringent biosecurity measures. The ultimate goal is to safeguard the income of our hardworking farmers and finally put a stop to the controversial badger cull.
Brian May: The Badgers, The Farmers and Me will air on Friday 23rd August at 9pm on BBC Two.
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2024-08-13 02:37