The Farmers’ Union of Wales today branded the Welsh Government’s decision to vaccinate rather than cull badgers as financial negligence after it was revealed the policy would lead to a net loss for the taxpayer of around £3.5 million.
According to the evidence provided to Environment and Sustainability Minister John Griffiths by his own department, a cull of badgers in the north Pembrokeshire Intensive Action Area would cost an estimated £4,990,000 but would lead to a saving of "at least £5,021,090".
By comparison, the vaccination policy adopted by the Welsh Government is estimated to cost £5,760,000 and will lead to a saving of only £2,304,000, meaning a net cost to taxpayers of £3,456,000.
Speaking after a meeting of FUW’s finance and organisation committee, during which members reiterated their disgust with the U-turn of many key politicians, the union's TB spokesman Brian Walters said: “The Welsh Government’s decision to vaccinate will lead to more cattle in north Pembrokeshire being infected with TB and slaughtered as a consequence.
"According to the government’s own figures, the cost to the taxpayer of doing this will be around £3.5 million more than it would have been if they’d proceeded with the cull.”
The FUW has always maintained that the merits of policies aimed at eradicating dangerous diseases like TB should not be assessed on the back of simplistic cost benefit analyses, but for years many argued against culling on the grounds that the costs outweighed any savings.
“As time has gone on the impact of culling has been found to be far more beneficial than some scientists had anticipated, making it at least cost-neutral, while at the same time saving the lives of cattle and preventing a great deal of heartache for farming families," said Mr Walters.
“The fact that the Welsh Government are now prepared to opt for a more expensive and less effective policy which will lead to a loss of £3.5 million to the taxpayer and the needless slaughter of thousands of cattle, rather than pursue a policy which science and economics tells us is best for Wales, speaks for itself.
“The decision is not only a betrayal of farmers but also a betrayal of taxpayers.”