Still a ‘huge task’ over bovine TB despite badger cull move
THE PRESIDENT of the National Farmers’ Union has warned there is still a huge task to contain the spread of bovine tuberculosis in cattle after the Government confirmed badger culling has been rolled out to more parts of England.
Seven more licences have been granted for culls in parts of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Devon and Dorset with operations now underway, the Department for Enviornment Food and Rural Affairs confirmed yesterday. The move, which comes after cull schemes in three areas of Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset, is part of the Government’s 25-year strategy to tackle TB in cattle, which can catch the disease from badgers.
The new culls are set to continue the controversy over the policy, which animal welfare campaigners criticise as inhumane and ineffective for combating TB. But the Government insisted “proactive” culling, which aims to remove 70 per cent of the badgers in a given area, is necessary to tackle the disease which it says costs the taxpayer more £100m every year.
The NFU’s president, Meurig Raymond, said: “Farmers facing a daily battle against bTB in those areas that have been granted licences for badger control operations this year will welcome the news that finally action is being taken to tackle the reservoir of disease in wildlife in these areas.
“The announcement means that badger control will now be taking place in 10 per cent of the area where cattle are at the highest risk of contracting bTB. There is still a huge amount of work ahead to ensure the eradication of bTB from this country and I would like to take this opportunity to thank farmers for their continued support in working towards this goal.”
Last year, more than 28,000 cattle were slaughtered in England to control the disease, with the West Country and counties bordering Wales at the highest risk of TB infections in livestock. West Gloucestershire and West Somerset are entering the fourth year of their licences for culling, and Dorset is entering its second year.
Farming Minister George Eustice said: “Bovine TB has a devastating impact on farms, which is why we are taking strong action to eradicate the disease, including tighter cattle controls, improved bio-security and badger control measures in areas where the disease is rife.”