Queen’s Brian May leads bovine TB research to end badger cull

“We recognise the devastating impact bovine TB has on the farming community which is why we are committed to beating this insidious disease,” said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

“This government will roll out a TB eradication package including vaccination, herd management and biosecurity measures to achieve our objective of getting to bovine TB free status and end the badger cull.”

Of the 11,000 cattle killed in Wales last year, nearly 40% were in Pembrokeshire.

Last week, the Welsh government established a board in an attempt to reach a TB-free Wales.

The Welsh government said it was “very aware of the distressing impact of bovine TB on the health and well-being of our farmers and their families and we are absolutely determined to eradicate this devastating disease”.

Some in the agricultural world are sceptical and May presented his ideas to an audience of farmers in Aberystwyth in 2023.

He said he knew he had a lot to do to win over some, but was determined to carry on.

“Generally we get a little bit of suspicion and hostility from the farming community when we start and I don’t blame them because why would we have anything to offer – rock star and wildlife campaigner,” he said.

“I didn’t come here for a fight, I think we can make a change and offer hope.

“We’ve been 12 years on this trail and we’ve made discoveries which no-one else has made.

“Speaking out against the culling of badgers has become as important to me as music.”