After the government's latest consultation, just what are the prospects for a badger cull to control bovine TB in England next year? Johann Tasker quizzes DEFRA secretary Caroline Spelman.
Caroline Spelman said she was ‘reasonably confident’ that a badger cull would go ahead in England to tackle the spread of bovine TB.
On being asked what ‘reasonably confident’ meant, the DEFRA secretary said that all of the views of stakeholders collected in the consultation had to be considered and that a proper process needed to take place.
She said the focus of the consultation was the humaneness and efficacy on the proposed methods to deal with the disease.
At the suggestion that the TB management plans may be too onerous for landlords and tenants, Ms Spelman said that the practicalities would be considered carefully.
She emphasised that the proposed cull was just one of a package of measures which also included cattle movement restrictions and ear tagging.
Above all, she said bovine TB was an important challenge and one DEFRA would do everything possible to tackle.
Watch the video to hear the full interview.
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