SIR, There are many different attitudes to controlling bovine TB. If the Tories win the next election, they are determined to continue culling badgers in England in an anti-scientific attempt to eradicate cattle TB – but this time they also allegedly intend to kill the badger cubs. The last two badger culls, in Gloucester and Somerset, have been a disastrous waste of tax-payers money. The culls were flying in the face of scientific evidence that stated, "badger culling can make no meaningful contribution to cattle TB control." (Krebs report) Even if 70 per cent of England's badgers were killed over a 10 year period this would only result in a possible 16 per cent reduction in bovine TB (bTB) according to DEFRA's figures. What about the other 84 per cent which is not attributable to badgers? What is causing the other 84 per cent? Could it be bad farming methods like filthy water troughs which all the herd drinks out of regardless of whether they have bTB or not? Not enough isolation sheds for cattle found to have bTB? Far too many cattle movements which are unnecessary? Lame cattle whose immune systems have broken down, thereby making them more susceptible to bTB? The possibilities are considerable. The pilot culls were also inhumane. In Wales, however, where there are very strict controls on cattle movement, the bTB figures have dropped! Wales has adopted a very different, humane approach to tackling the problem of eradicating bTB. The introduction of new cattle-based measures and the rigid enforcement of cattle testing regimes are responsible for this. The Welsh Government has also put into place a vaccination programme for badgers. These measures have resulted in a lowering of the incidence of bTB – without killing a single badger. Helen Chambers (Caerwent)