Brian May Responds To Backlash To Badger Cull Documentary

In a recent BBC2 documentary, Brian May argued against the badger cull as a solution to bovine TB (bTB), claiming that the cull was unjustifiable and that badgers were not the main cause of cow reinfections. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is reportedly planning to file a formal complaint against the BBC, alleging bias and inaccuracies in the documentary. The program, "Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me," took four years to make and highlighted research showing that bTB is primarily spread through poor biosecurity and the spreading of cow manure in fields.

Despite criticisms from AHDB and other organizations, the documentary's central argument that bTB is primarily a cattle disease, rather than one spread by badgers, has found support from experts like Malcolm Bennett of Nottingham University. The documentary also highlighted the inaccuracy of government-provided tests for the disease and advocated for alternative solutions to culling, such as badger vaccination programs and the development of a cow vaccine. While some government officials have acknowledged the ineffectiveness of the cull, existing licenses are still being allowed to continue.