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Recent scientific research has shown that amongst those responsible for the spread of TB are the several thousand fox hounds, horses and 4x4 hunt support vehicles that charge across farmland up and down the UK every year. In TB 'hotspots', fox hunting appears to be more prevelant. Almost all hunts say that they want to 'trail hunt' rather than drag hunt as 'trail hunting' is more 'natural'. A drag hunt has an organised route taken through countryside, but a 'trail hunt' is more random, taking the hounds through areas where the fox may run if being pursued by the twenty or so hounds and their many followers and riders. It doesn't take much to realise that any area where there is TB then the hunt will surely help to spread it as it covers that land in pursuit of the fox...oops, I mean in pursuit of the man running with a fox scented bit of cloth.

Look at the UK TB 'hotspots' and look at just how many hunts cross that land up to three times a week. The evidence speaks for itself.

Far from demonstrating a "cowardly betrayal" the minister has bravely followed the science and stood up to the ignorant and powerful farming lobby. Farmers and the FUW are very selective in the way they present the science to try to scapegoat the badger. In fact, looked at as a whole, it quite clearly demonstrates that a cull would be of no or miniscule significance in the cull area and is likely to increase the incidence of bovine TB in bordering areas and that a vaccination programme could be much more effective particularly if coupled with improvements in husbandry and controls on cattle movements (trading).

Well done Mr Griffiths.

I am delighted with the stand of the Welsh Minister. Before the Bill to stop fox hunting with dogs (Totally ignored) it was the foxes that were a menace & caused all sorts of diseases, now it's the badgers, it's also the badgers that dig up the front lawns of houses in urban areas, when all gardeners know that there are small white grubs that feed on the grass roots, then the magpies crows etc. scratch at the loose grass to eat the grubs. It seems to me that the farmers with the help of the Government, are just hell bent on getting their own way, by spreading nasty rumours. Oh! I forgot the one about the hundreds of dogs that would have to be destroyed if they wern't allowed to hunt with dogs.
It's time they showed a little humanity, & stopped being so hoeeible & nasty.
So Thank You to the Welsh Assembly for NOT BOWING DOWN to these people.
Cynthia Howells. PS I'm not Welsh, but do have family in Wales.

The taxpayer must send a clear message to the government and the farmers in denial about their own destructive practices that we will no longer subsidise them to treat our environment with contempt. They are already subsidised to the total value of their product, we don't have to pay through the nose for them to murder the animals we love. This genocide will bring animal farmers into the public’s contempt when they should be selling their products on the back of the undoubted environmental benefits of pastoral farming practice. If you lose the public’s good will you will eventually lose your privileged position in this country in terms of public subsidy, even under your captured Tory ministers. Beware that you don't cull yourselves out of existence as well as these fine mammals that have always been part of our lives. This is great news for Welsh farmers as well as the the poor Badgers. Mr.Grifiths, is there anyway you can talk some sense and humanity into your vested interest captured English counterparts?