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07/07/2008
Government Says No To Badger Culling
The Government will not issue badger culling licences to prevent the spread of TB in England, the DEFRA Minister has confirmed.
Hilary Benn said in a Commons statement that "while a large-scale cull could improve the situation" it "could also make the problem worse".
The Environment Secretary said that around £20 million will be made available for vaccination, but no licences to cull badgers will be issued unless more "convincing science becomes available".
Mr Benn said at the Royal Show on Friday, that he "fully understood the devastation caused on farms around the country".
The National Farmers Union is planning a demonstration in London on Tuesday.
NFU President Peter Kendall has warned that discussions with Government on cost and responsibility sharing on animal disease would be "untenable, faced with what could only be described as an abdication of responsibility on the issue of TB".
Trevor Lawson, for the Badger Trust says that "there is no scientific, economic or practical case for culling badgers to control bovine TB".
"The most robust research, by the independent Scientific Group concluded that culling can make no 'meaningful contribution' to TB control," he said.
Mr Lawson added that "attention must be focused on cattle, the main agents of the disease".
The Badger Trust says that around 70% of cattle are never tested for TB in their lifetime.
About 4,000 herds were affected by the disease last year, mainly in the south-west of England.
(DS)
Hilary Benn said in a Commons statement that "while a large-scale cull could improve the situation" it "could also make the problem worse".
The Environment Secretary said that around £20 million will be made available for vaccination, but no licences to cull badgers will be issued unless more "convincing science becomes available".
Mr Benn said at the Royal Show on Friday, that he "fully understood the devastation caused on farms around the country".
The National Farmers Union is planning a demonstration in London on Tuesday.
NFU President Peter Kendall has warned that discussions with Government on cost and responsibility sharing on animal disease would be "untenable, faced with what could only be described as an abdication of responsibility on the issue of TB".
Trevor Lawson, for the Badger Trust says that "there is no scientific, economic or practical case for culling badgers to control bovine TB".
"The most robust research, by the independent Scientific Group concluded that culling can make no 'meaningful contribution' to TB control," he said.
Mr Lawson added that "attention must be focused on cattle, the main agents of the disease".
The Badger Trust says that around 70% of cattle are never tested for TB in their lifetime.
About 4,000 herds were affected by the disease last year, mainly in the south-west of England.
(DS)
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15 December 2005
New measures announced to tackle bovine TB
The government has announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England. The measures include the introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing in cattle and a 12-week consultation on badger culling, as well as the introduction of a new compensation scheme.
New measures announced to tackle bovine TB
The government has announced new measures to tackle bovine TB in cattle in England. The measures include the introduction of a requirement for pre-movement testing in cattle and a 12-week consultation on badger culling, as well as the introduction of a new compensation scheme.
19 January 2012
Badger Culling Begins In August
The culling of Britain's badgers is to begin in August, while the initial pilot areas have been identified, according to reports on Thursday.
Badger Culling Begins In August
The culling of Britain's badgers is to begin in August, while the initial pilot areas have been identified, according to reports on Thursday.
01 March 2005
Badger cull considered in plans to tackle bovine TB
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned that badgers could be culled in order to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Defra stressed that scientific, as well as other evidence, was "vital" to solving the problem.
Badger cull considered in plans to tackle bovine TB
The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned that badgers could be culled in order to stop the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB). Defra stressed that scientific, as well as other evidence, was "vital" to solving the problem.
02 December 2013
Gloucestershire Badger Cull Fails To Meet Target
The pilot cull of badgers in West Gloucestershire has not met the 70% target set out by the government. Official figures have revealed that in the additional five weeks and three days of culling allowed, only 213 badgers were killed, bringing the total number to 921. Only 40% were culled during the operation, which ended on Saturday 30 November.
Gloucestershire Badger Cull Fails To Meet Target
The pilot cull of badgers in West Gloucestershire has not met the 70% target set out by the government. Official figures have revealed that in the additional five weeks and three days of culling allowed, only 213 badgers were killed, bringing the total number to 921. Only 40% were culled during the operation, which ended on Saturday 30 November.
15 September 2010
Badger Culls Planned By Government
The Government has published proposals which would allow farmers to cull badgers as part of measures to control bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Defra has launched a consultation on the proposal to issue licences to farmers and landowners who wish to cull and/or vaccinate badgers at their own expense.
Badger Culls Planned By Government
The Government has published proposals which would allow farmers to cull badgers as part of measures to control bovine tuberculosis in cattle. Defra has launched a consultation on the proposal to issue licences to farmers and landowners who wish to cull and/or vaccinate badgers at their own expense.
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