I WAS dismayed to hear that the Welsh Assembly is pushing ahead with slaughtering badgers in a misguided attempt to protect the dairy industry.

Although I live outside of Wales, I have taken the decision to boycott all Welsh dairy products. If England decides to follow suit after the election and cull badgers, I will have to extend my boycott here.

I can no longer support an industry that is the reason for the systematic extermination of our native wildlife. Badgers will be decimated in parts of Wales in the vain attempt to prevent the spread of bovine TB – lured to their deaths with their favourite treat, peanuts; trapped in cages and brutally shot.

This despite the largest ever study into bovine TB pointing out that it will not work and might actually make the situation worse.

The real reasons for this cull are bad farming practices and incompetent agricultural policies – with huge numbers of cattle movements; insufficient cattle testing; as well as an increase in herd sizes, which has meant cattle are more susceptible to disease.

In England, a non-violent programme of inoculation is leading the way, but the Welsh Assembly has refused to halt the bloodshed. It is my grave concern that this policy will be extended outside of Wales, as farmers are increasingly pushing for badgers to be killed here, too.

I for one will no longer support an industry that demands the slaughter of native wildlife whilst ignoring its own shortcomings. I am boycotting Welsh dairy – and adopting cruelty-free plant-based alternatives – and I will be encouraging all my friends and family to do likewise.

Visit www.viva.org.uk/badgers.

Felicity Richards, Fishponds.