Groups call badger boycott of Irish food, holidays

CONSUMERS are being urged by animal welfare groups to boycott Irish dairy and beef and boycott Ireland as a holiday destination, because of what they call senseless slaughter of badgers in order to eradicate bovine TB.

Badgerwatch Ireland and the UK's Badger Trust said the animals are being virtually exterminated in the Republic of Ireland, with up to 6,000 snares set by Government employees every night.

They said this bovine TB control method has failed, with TB levels two times higher than in Great Britain, where badgers are not being culled.