NFU survey suggests support for badger cull

Six out of 10 people support legal culling of badgers to control TB, according to a NFU-commissioned survey.

The union commissioned the independent marketing agency, England Marketing, to carry out an online survey between 15 – 24 May.

It asked 1,032 people questions about farming from across England and Wales, divided across age, gender and region.

The survey found just over two thirds  – 68% – were in agreement that cattle can catch bovine TB.

When asked if they believed TB could be spread to cattle by badgers 49% agreed, 41% said they neither agreed nor disagreed and 9.7% said they disagreed or strongly disagreed.

Yet when everyone other than those who said they did not believe badgers could spread TB to cattle were asked if they supported a legal cull of badgers then 62% of people said they did.

There was 60% to 68% support of a legal cull across the country, with the exception of the East Midlands where support fell to 58%.

Support was also higher amongst males than females.

The NFU’s findings are in contrast to a recent BBC survey which suggested that two-thirds of the public were against badger culling.

Discuss the survey results and the idea of badger culling on the forums