Fingers-crossed that they make the right decision...............

July 4, 2008

Badger cull to curb cattle TB will not go ahead

By Tom Chivers

Last Updated: 7:01am BST 04/07/2008

A cull of badgers to control TB in cattle will not take place,

ministers have decided.

Telegraph Earth homepage

The Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, said last year that a

cull would be effective in slowing the spread of the disease, and

ministers were expected to follow the advice.

However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is

expected to reject his advice in a statement due to be given on

Monday.

The National Farmers' Union has reacted angrily to the decision,

saying that bovine tuberculosis costs the UK farming industry

millions.

Speaking to the BBC the president of the NFU, Peter Kendell, accused

the government of " ducking the issue " and said that a protest against

the decision would be held outside parliament next week.

The NFU claims that the disease could cost the government as much as

£1bn in disease control and compensation if left unchecked.

Sir David suggested that a cull " could make a significant

contribution to the control of cattle TB in those areas of England

were there is a high and persistent incidence of TB in cattle " .

However, the government instead chose to follow the advice of the

Independent Scientific Group on TB in Cattle, which concluded that

culling could not " meaningfully contribute " to controlling TB.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn warned there was " no simple

solution " to the bovine TB problem, but said he would study the

report before making a decision.

A spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural

Affairs said: " We do not comment on leaks. " The secretary of state

will be making a statement in parliament soon. "

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