Reprint and update of A Veterinary Opinion on Hunting with Hounds

Our definitive document on hunting with hounds - “A Veterinary Opinion on Hunting with Hounds” has been recently republished, September 2017. See link. Hard copies are available from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

A PDF version of “A Veterinary Opinion on Hunting with Hounds” can be downloaded on this link

Video on Hunting with Hounds

Our latest video on Hunting with Hounds

Our mission statement on wildlife management

The Facts of Rural Life on the need for better wildlife management was launched on June 23, 2015 at Westminster to a select group of politicians, journalists and wild life experts. The book was warmly endorsed in a short address by Sir Nicholas Soames MP and Kate Hoey MP

The book by Charlie Pye-Smith makes the case for better wildlife management. It draws on extensive research in the field and interviews with scientists, farmers, conservationists, vets, gamekeepers, huntsmen and others involved in the study and management of wildlife, and it addresses many of the crucial conservation controversies of our time. It also exposes the consequences of ill-thought through legislation. It provides a valuable resource for politicians, the media and anyone genuinely concerned about conservation, animal welfare and the future of Britain's countryside.

Download the flyer and order form for more information.

As a follow up to The Facts of Rural Life, VAWM is holding a wildlife management day at Portcullis house, Westminster at the end of March 2018 at which representatives from a number of organisations involved in countryside management have been invited to exhibit and speak.

The case for culling badgers to control bovine TB is irrefutable

The disease was almost eradicated in the 1980s by a combined strategy of tuberculin testing of cattle and culling of badgers. But following the Zuckerman report of 1980 culling was scaled down and entirely abandoned following the Krebs report in 1997 by the in coming Labour Government. Since when, as may be seen from the chart below, the disease has escalated out of control:

Clearly it won't be controlled by killing more and more cattle as recommended by the so called Independent Scientific Group in 2006! 39,389 cattle were slaughtered in 2016. The current inefficient, labour intensive, strategy of farmer led badger culling is simply holding the disease at a wholly unacceptable level. Nor is it likely to be controlled by vaccination (see above)

VAWM publishes a critical response to the recent Bovine TB strategy review from DEFRA (The Godfray review)

The Association was moved to respond to the latest review published by DEFRA (October 2018) chaired by Sir Charles Godfray.

One is driven to the conclusion that the two assumptions on cattle to cattle transmission and vaccination are driven more by political expediency than science and one must question therefore the value of a report and strategy based as it is largely on these two assumptions.

We urge Government therefore to take direct hold of the problem and resume research into identifying humane fumigants coupled with precise identification of infected badger setts by molecular PCR testing so that a more efficient, humane and targeted strategy of culling badgers underground might be pursued. Such an approach that targeted only infected/diseased animals would clearly be more acceptable to the public in general and to the profession.

Oue full response to the Godfray review can be [downloaded here].

VAWM publishes a position statement on control of bovine TB

The Badger protection acts of 1973 and 1992 are identified as the major constraint to effective control of the badger population and bovine TB. The Association calls therefore for a broadening of the criteria whereby Natural England grant licences for culling of badgers and calls on DEFRA to identify as a matter of urgency an effective and humane fumigant for the culling of badgers underground. The statement was submitted to the Secretary of State, Liz Truss in November 2015.

The full statements may be read [on this link].

The scientific basis for the Badger BCG vaccine is questionable

A recent critical assessment of the scientific basis for the Badger BCG vaccine reveals serious shortcomings.

Although the vaccine has been shown to provide some protection against experimental challenge it fails to protect against infection and all vaccinated animals shed M.bovis post challenge. Furthermore it has no proven efficacy against bovine TB in the field. The likelihood therefore of the vaccine giving protection in the face of the massive infection out there in the badger population is therefore highly improbable. The vaccine has only a Limited Marketing Authority. For more information please see our letter to the AHVLA questioning the efficacy and safety of the Badger BCG vaccine (2014b).

Video about Badgers and bovine TB

Our latest video about Badgers and bovine TB

A response to the Governments consultations on bovine TB and badger culling 2010, 2013 and 2014

Please download our submissions to DEFRA on bovine TB and badger culling 2010, 2013 and 2014 on these links (PDF Format).

For more information go to Badgers and bovine TB and Badgers and the countryside pages.

Hounds in the countryside

The claim that hounds may spread bovine TB in the countryside is clearly self serving nonsense. See our letter to the Veterinary Times attached here.