The RBCT - a gift that keeps on giving.

We knew the smell of this most politically motivated piece of so called 'research' may permeate for a while, but it seems that Oxford University want to keep its emissions rolling on. John Bourne (pictured) led the RBCT from 1998 - 2005.

Reported this week in the Guardian was an ascertion that cattle herds on the edge of an RBCT (Randomised Badger Culling Trial) - or as like to refer to it - the Badger Dispersal Trial, were more likely to have reactors.

After their eight night forays into infected populations, catching a few badgers daft enough to grab a few peanuts, was never going to clear TB from the area. But according to the trial leader, it was never meant to.

The Guardian's report states:

"In the two-part study, researchers re-analysed data from the randomised badger culling trial that took place between 1998 and 2005. The initial study produced data consistent with the RCBT showing beneficial results to cattle in the areas where culling took place.

However, a secondary study using peer-reviewed analyses of the RCBT found a 29% increased risk of bTB infections in cattle in surrounding areas.

The secondary study aimed to address scientists’ concern around the “lack of evidence” supporting the RCBT experiment. It also suggested that irrespective of the statistical methodology used, badger culling during the RCBT was associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis in neighbouring cattle.

So it is with the greatest respect, that we remind the researchers, trawling through data from 25 years ago, of the words of its leader, the diminutive John Bourne when he addressed the EFRA Committee about 'his' trial in 2007.

The phrase ' culling in this way', was not the answer: in other words, as many as we could trap in a very few nights, leaving a fractured and highly infectious community behind. And ' it's important we do say this. Protocol was not set by the team, but by politicians'.

. . Thus the way the trial set up, was to enable a pre arranged conclusion to be reached. The RBCT was designed to fail. Some of the Wildlife unit staff involved, were equally scathing. As were several very experienced veterinarians.

Nevertheless, those highly intelligent folk at OXford have grabbed the data, rearranged it and come up with fairly obvious conclusion.

It's such a great pity that their research didn't reach the depths of John Bourne and his team's duplicity, obfuscation and downright dishonesty when addressing politicians, but especially the farmers about this expensive farce.

The result is that we all see more of these, on our fields.