Queen’s guitarist, Brian May, has added animal activist to his list of titles, focusing specifically on the controversial topic of culling badgers in an effort to control the spread of bovine TB. In the documentary “Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me,” May teams up with animal welfare advocate Anne Brummer and large-animal vet Dave Sibley to investigate the government’s approach to controlling the disease.
May questions the effectiveness of the culling program, which has resulted in the killing of around 200,000 badgers over the past decade at a cost of £100m to the taxpayer annually. Through a four-year investigation on a farm in Wales, the team discovers that the current TB tests for cows are inadequate, leaving many infected animals undetected and able to infect others through contaminated dung.
By implementing better testing procedures and improving hygiene practices on the farm, the team successfully eliminates the disease from the herd. The documentary raises important questions about the necessity of culling badgers and presents alternative solutions, such as vaccinating cows and improving testing protocols.
May’s calm and reasoned approach in the film challenges viewers to consider new perspectives on the issue and highlights the need for further research and policy changes. “Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me” sheds light on a complex and contentious issue, ultimately advocating for a more compassionate and effective approach to managing bovine TB.
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