A report to government that advises the culling of badgers in areas of the country endemic with bovine tuberculosis has met with relief from farming unions, but with stern criticism wildlife groups.

The report by the government’s chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, contradicts the final report of the Independent Scientific Group that concluded “culling badgers could make no meaningful contribution to tackling the disease”.

But Sir David is clear in his review of the report: “The data do not support such an unqualified conclusion.”

He adds: “In other countries where a wildlife reservoir has been implicated, TB in cattle has not been controlled without addressing the wildlife reservoir.”

*  *  *  *  *

NFU 

The NFU welcomed the report saying “it clears the way for a vital badger cull”.

NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond said Sir David had provided damning confirmation of the failure of the government’s existing strategy.

“What is the point in putting in place all sorts of costly and disruptive measures to reduce the spread of disease between cattle if you do nothing to prevent it getting into the cattle in the first place?

“We are not in the least bit surprised at the chief scientist’s conclusions and we strongly endorse his statement that ‘strong action needs to be taken now to reverse the upward trend of this important disease’.

 “Now that we have scientific endorsement for the principle of badger culling, there can be no further excuse for the government not to act. 

"We stand ready to play our part in carrying out a scientifically designed badger culling strategy in partnership with the government’s veterinary advisers in accordance with the chief scientist’s recommendations.”

*  *  *  *  *

CLA 

Country Land and Business Association president David Fursdon said: “Cattle farmers across the country will be hoping that this news is the first real step towards removing a disease that has crippled the industry for a long time.

“The CLA would urge Ministers to act quickly and resolutely on Sir David King’s recommendations. Livestock farmers are reeling from a series of diseases at present.

“They cannot control them on their own. There is no place for political compromise when attempting to control any of these diseases and Bovine TB is no exception. 

"An integrated approach, humane and scientific, is needed which can combine both cattle and badger control policies cost effectively,”

*  *  *  *  *

RABDF

Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers president Lyndon Edwards also welcomed the report. 

“These measures are sheer common sense and the first step towards what we hope is a sensible strategy that will be acceptable to all.

"It really is wonderful news to find a chief government advisor accepting what farmers consider to be the obvious.”

*  *  *  *  *

Conservative Party

Conservative shadow agriculture minister, Jim Paice, described government policy on TB as a “shambles”:
 
"The government’s policy on Bovine TB has descended into a shambles.  The chief scientific adviser shares our conclusion that the reservoir of infection in badgers must be addressed as part of an overall package of measures and that the science of the ISG report is open to question.

“Farmers have waited for ten years for action on Bovine TB and yet it still seems that the government cannot agree amongst itself as to the best course of action.

"More delays will only further heighten this problem, the government needs to finally decide how to tackle this and take action now.”

*  *  *  *  *

Badger Trust 

The report was dismissed as one-sided and without due consideration of the cost involved, said the Badger Trust.

“Prof King says his aim is to control TB in cattle but he ignores the fact that this can be achieved by improving the cattle testing regime,” the Badger Trust’s Trevor Lawson.

“The science shows that cattle are the primary source of infection for both each other and for badgers but this is of no interest to Prof King.

"His shallow report amounts to a shamelessly one sided examination of the problem,” he added.