Industry vows to continue the fight

FARMING organisations are adamant the ISG report should not be the end of the matter as far as badger culling is concerned.

They have united in criticising the report’s methodology and conclusions and have questioned why the ISG refused to accept evidence from Ireland was relevant to the UK.

They have vowed to continue working together and with Defra to formulate an effective culling policy.

“I simply do not accept that the industry cannot devise a culling strategy that will reduce the reservoir of TB in badgers,” said NFU president Peter Kendall.

He said tighter cattle controls would be ‘worthless’ in the absence of a badger cull and described the ‘appalling prospect of disease being allowed to continue spreading throughout the country as ‘unacceptable’ to him and his members in hotspot areas.

George Dunn, chief executive of the Tenant Farmers’ Association said the report’s ‘weak’ cost benefit was based on ‘rocky assumptions’, underplaying in particular the cost of bTB to farmers. It must not be used to justify the ‘do nothing’ approach, he said.

He and National Beef Association chief executive Robert Forster urged farmers and Defra to focus on a strategy of culling within areas bordered by geographical boundaries to limit to badger movement to counter the problem of badger movement.

Country Land and Business Association (CLA), president David Fursdon said he was ‘astounded’ the report had ruled out wildlife vector control strategies and urged Defra Secretary David Miliband ‘not to wash his hands of the issue’ in light of the report’.

Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers chairman Lyndon Edwards expressed his ‘disdain’ at the report, describing the trial as ‘flawed from the start’, and issued a plea for the industry to unite in lobbying for a culling strategy.

The ISG report opens up the prospect of a serious farmer backlash, if the Government supports its findings. Farmers For Action chairman David Handley has already written to Mr Miliband informing him that he is calling on ‘all livestock farmers to be non-compliant in respect of TB testing until such time as you are prepared to grasp the nettle and deal with unhealthy wildlife’.

On the ground, the temperature is rising in the TB hotspot areas. “The initial feeling of disappointment will turn into anger if we don’t see some sort of movement from Defra soon,” NFU Devon county chairman Paul Griffith said at the ISG open meeting. “The situation really is at boiling point and what could have possibly dampened the flames has actually poured petrol on,”

“We have begged for a complete control strategy and if we don’t get it I’m afraid that in certain areas we are going to see an absolutely massive cull by farmers and that is not what we want.”

He warned that the combination on no badger cull but extra cattle controls would have ‘horrendous’ implications for farming in the south west, forcing many farmers out of business.

Animal welfare groups were delighted with the ISG’s report and urged Ministers to rule our badger culling ‘once and for all’.