Dear Editor, Well Mr Lewis, has his ‘killing fields’ thanks to the Welsh Assembly Minister for some Rural affairs. The question was asked for a reasonable response showing that the badger culls were the only way forward in beating this dreadful disease.

Having read the various replies – like the findings of the EFRA Committee which stressed the six points necessary for successful badger culls (which are extremely hard to meet). The onto the ISG findings which state "that badger culls would provide no meaningful contribution" and that they "would not be cost effective". Are these reports written by "ignorant narrow minded people"?

What of the cull approach was tried in the NHS? I am informed that one of the main contributing factors to the spread of serious infections like Cdiff is the tendency for relatives to visit frequently. However, no one has suggested replacing the little gel alcoholic hand wash with guns.

One would have to have to bow to Mr Lewis’ experience in the field and note the tharnbury findings – but I wondered about his claim that all his associates were convinced about the success of badger culls. I therefore contacted two local vets practises randomly and asked two vets about this. One said "she’s sat on the fence about his topic and awaited developments".

The other, who has had a lot of bTB related work said "she was against the cull" citing the Irish experience, there was a massive cull in the South and bTB rose, there was no cull in the north but with stricter control measures and bTB fell. They both said as far as they knew "there was no consensus of opinion". Mr Lewis likes to use the words "ignorant and selfish and narrow minded" – should he use them considering his associates?

Anyway the time for debate is over, there will soon be zoo badgers in cages. Let us hope it will improve the bTB situation and that they will not prove to be unsuccessful bloodied scapegoats.

C E David Coedmelin Tremain