1.  It is known that many different species of wildlife, other than badgers, are also carriers of bovine tuberculosis.

  2.  Scientists have conducted tests to establish the extent of such infection in some such species.

  3.  To take just one example: The brown rat also carries bovine tuberculosis. It seems that such infection affects a lower percentage of the population of that species than it does in badgers where they also are infected. However, the rat population is 100 times greater than the badger population, so the pool of bovine tuberculosis is larger in the former species than in the latter. Furthermore, rats live in fields, hedgerows, farm buildings used for cattle and in food stores.

  4.  It is illogical, and in effect mere political gesture, to use the killing of one infected species of wildlife as part of a containment policy if all such species are not eliminated. It is impractical to carry out such a policy, involving as it would, many other species of animals and birds.

  5.  It follows from the above that culling badgers (or indeed anything else) is not a practical option and it is respectfully suggested that all resources must be directed instead into the successful development of a vaccine and into variations of improved cattle management.

4 January 1999