I was dismayed to read Andy Hamilton’s reply to farmer Paul Gould’s desperate situation, with a quarter of his dairy herd infected with TB.

Mr Hamilton refuses to acknowledge that badgers are the only channel through which a closed herd may be contaminated.

He informs us that closed herds have TB lingering undetected for years, that the badger is an innocent party. Rubbish. How can animal rights groups sensibly believe that the increasing badger population is not having a detrimental effect on the countryside?

And how disrespectful Mr Hamilton’s attitude is towards a farming family who are suffering through the horrendous ordeal of seeing their livestock and livelihood destroyed.

The number of badger setts has doubled since 1988. This population explosion coincides with a rapid decline in the hedgehog population.

Badgers kill and eat hedgehogs – I guess Mr Hamilton’s organisation doesn’t care so much for this mammal. Bumblebees are also affected as badgers prey on their ground nests. No farmer wants to see all badgers exterminated, nobody wants badgers to become endangered.

But the imbalance is having terrible ramifications for our farmers and for other wildlife. These problems will multiply as the badger population continues to grow unchecked. Where is the common sense in all this?

Both sides of the argument can find scientific support. But clearly there are too many badgers wreaking havoc on our countryside.

Farmers must be allowed to control badger numbers and we must look to other European countries, who actively protect their farmers and wildlife, for best practices on badger control practices and methods.

Jo Stover

Lower Brimley Coombe

Stoke Abott