The badger threat to cattle

The latest threat to England's cattle farmers - badgers. Bovine TB spread largely by them - infections rising last year by nearly 20 per cent. And until today a 10 year old government ban on badger culling seemed set to stay - until now

Badgers are a clear source of infection for cattle. Reducing the density of badgers in those areas of England where there is a significant level of TB in cattle reduces the incidence of TB in cattle in the same area.

Apparently clear endorsement - to cull. Of course livestock farmers haven't had it easy of late - this summer seeing the return of foot and mouth, and emergence of Bluetongue. Now the threat of TB.

Yet only three months ago another government study found badger culling would need to be conducted on such a wide scale - it would be uneconomical. The then Defra secretary David Milliband was reported as saying starting to cull again would be very controversial.

Sir David King's comments today appear to be a complete change of direction. The author of the previous study - Professor John Bourne - says the King report is far from comprehensive.

The National Farmer's Union has long wanted to cull - regular pre and post movement testing of cattle, they argue, simply cannot contain bovine TB - a position long contested by animal rescue campaigners.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs elect committee meets this Wednesday to discuss Prof King's report - although Defra say any decision to reverse the cull ban won't be anytime soon.

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