Humaneness of MAFF’s Badger Despatch Procedures
James K Kirkwood BVSc PhD FIBiol MRCVS
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare
1 Introduction
1.1 Prior to the start, in 1998, of the Krebs/Bourne field study into the role of badgers in the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis, and into the efficacy of culling in the control of this disease, the culling of badgers had been for many years a routine part of attempts to control this disease in affected areas. Historically, hydrogen cyanide gas had been used for killing badgers in their setts as part of TB control measures but, in 1980, concerns about the humaneness of this procedure led to the adoption of cage-trapping and shooting as the standard method.
1.2 From the early 1980s this trapping and shooting method was used exclusively and it is the method now being used for the despatch of badgers in the Krebs/Bourne field trial. In 1999 I was asked by MAFF to undertake an independent audit of the humaneness of the despatch procedures during the 1999/2000 ‘year’ of the trial and then, following a further auditing visit in May 2000, to submit a report on this audit.
1.3 The aim of this audit was to assess the efficacy of MAFF’s systems for ensuring high standards of humaneness in the despatch of badgers trapped (and animals of other species unintentionally trapped) as part of the Krebs/Bourne field trial. Although assessment of the humaneness of the trapping method per se was not part of the audit, some comment has been made about this.
2 Methods
2.1 This audit has involved discussions with many MAFF staff involved in the organisation, running and monitoring of the trials and, in particular, of the despatch procedures; collection of information relevant to assessment of the humaneness of the despatch procedures; accompanying field staff on their trap rounds to observe procedures for despatch and confirmation of death; and assessment of the protocols for training and examination of field staff in despatch procedures.
2.2 Badger despatch procedures
Visits were made to trial areas on days when animals were being trapped for despatch (see Table 1), in order to accompany the field staff to observe their procedures as they conducted their trap rounds and despatched the badgers which had been caught.
| Date | Location | Trial culling |
|---|---|---|
| 25th & 26th May 1999 | Hartland | Reactive |
| 22nd October 1999 | Lanreath | Proactive |
| 23rd November 1999 | Hartland | Reactive |
| 30th November & 1st December 1999 | Putford | Proactive |
| 18th January 2000 | Gloucestershire | Proactive |
| 17th May 2000 | Wiltshire | Proactive |
Records were kept of each badger despatch including date, area, sex and age category of the animal, and number of shots fired. The placement and direction of the shots were observed wherever possible, and notes were kept of the outcome and of the procedures for the confirmation of death. The level of activity shown by trapped badgers on approach of the field staff to the trap and up to the point of shooting were scored: 1 - apparently asleep, 2 - awake but mostly still, 3 - intermittent and relatively slow movements (mild escape behaviour), 4 - more constant and quite strenuous movements (moderate escape behaviour), 5 intense strenuous activity (intense escape behaviour). Records were also kept (where possible) of any apparent injuries that may have been related to trapping.
2.3 Non-target species
On the occasions listed above, observations were also made of the field staff’s procedures for dealing with non-target species (animals other than badgers) caught in the traps.
2.4 Post mortem examinations
A visit was made to a Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Veterinary Investigation Centre on 26th May 1999 to observe post mortem examination procedures for recording trap-related pathology.
2.5 Staff training and examinations in humane despatch procedures
A visit was made to the centre of operations in the West Country on 15th September 1999, to learn about the methods of staff training in humane despatch techniques and to attend oral and practical examinations being taken by trainee field staff to assess their knowledge of, and competence in, humane despatch procedures.
2.6 Management and internal auditing structures
The above visits to the trial areas and to the centre of operations in the West Country provided opportunities to learn about the organisation and management of the trial programme and the internal auditing mechanisms. These were supplemented by meetings at the MAFF HQ at Tolworth on 30th June and 12th November 1999 and at the MAFF HQ in London on 1st March 2000, and a number of telephone conversations during the period of the audit, particularly with the MAFF Veterinary Advisers.
On to Observations and discussions
Page last modified:
12 August 2003
Page published: 5 February 2003