SIR – Re the letter by Carole Roberts ‘What right do we have to carry out cull?’ (Worcester News, October 8).

Mrs Roberts stated her case against the pending partial cull of badgers in some areas as part of an ongoing experiment to limit TB in cattle.

Millions have been spent by the taxpayer on experiments and reports.

The farming community is only partially compensated for its huge losses while thousands of cattle are slaughtered and an unknown number of badgers suffer and die unseen from TB.

As this disease continues to spread a possible vaccine for cattle seems years away and the idea of trapping and vaccinating a badger population of about 300,000 is impossible.

Shooting badgers may not halt this disease but the threats and emotive language from some factions in the animal rights movement certainly won't help.

Mrs Roberts disagrees vehemently with culling deer when their numbers become excessive.

As they have no predators these animals will overgraze and eventually destroy the very habitat they depend on and then starve to death.

This has happened in the West Country.

One animal rights group failed to manage the number of red deer on its land.

Starvation, TB, lung worm and a painful death followed for many of these magnificent animals.

Conserving our countryside and wildlife combined with trying to feed 60 million people is not easy.

Anyone who thinks they have a quick-fix solution to any of this is probably still a fully paid up member of the flat earth society.

JON BURGESS

Malvern