Badger cull call is rejected
Shropshire farmers today reacted with fury after a leaked report revealed the Government will rule against culling badgers to control TB in cattle next week. Shropshire farmers today reacted with fury after a leaked report revealed the Government will rule against culling badgers to control TB in cattle next week. One farmer, whose business has been blighted by bovine tuberculosis, will lead an emotional demonstration outside Parliament next week in protest at the decision. Andrew Bebb, from Shrewsbury, will join forces with farmers from across Shropshire and the rest of the Midlands who have had their livestock destroyed and farms shut down by the killer disease. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star and have your say in the comment box below
Shropshire farmers today reacted with fury after a leaked report revealed the Government will rule against culling badgers to control TB in cattle next week.One farmer, whose business has been blighted by bovine tuberculosis, will lead an emotional demonstration outside Parliament next week in protest at the decision.
Andrew Bebb, from Shrewsbury, will join forces with farmers from across Shropshire and the rest of the Midlands who have had their livestock destroyed and farms shut down by the killer disease.
The decision, leaked ahead of next week's planned announcement by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, drew a furious response from Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski, chairman of the all-party group on dairy farming.
"I am devastated at this news," he said. "Predictions across the country are that this year alone up to 40,500 cows will have to be slaughtered as a result of bovine TB, costing the taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds in compensation to farmers affected.
"This disease brings emotional stress and misery to our rural communities and has an extraordinarily damaging effect on our farmers' livelihoods."
Mr Kawczynski today sent a letter to all MPs urging them to join in next week's demonstration.
He was backed by NFU president Peter Kendall, who said: "This will be a devastating decision for farmers and their families who are being really blighted, devastated and destroyed - whole livelihoods and businesses - because of this."
Defra's decision goes against the recommendations of the former Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King.
But it follows research from the Independent Scientific Group which conducted a 10-year study into culling, concluding it could not "meaningfully contribute" to controlling TB.
Trevor Lawson, from the Badger Trust, said: "There is no scientific, economic or practical case for culling badgers to control bovine TB."
However, Sir David King said that unless tuberculosis was dealt with in the badger population, it would continue to spread among cattle.
By Rural Affairs Editor Nathan Rous
