The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has welcomed the EFRA committee report's multi-faceted approach to tackling bTB and appealed to Government to implement its proposed common sense measures at the earliest.

"We support this independent group of MPs balanced approach to bTB control in both cattle and badgers by recommending a mix of measures including a badger cull," comments RABDF chairman, Lyndon Edwards. "We also welcome the fact the report has called for a review of the table valuation system for slaughtered cattle which it deemed as unfair and inequitable for many farmers, in particular those with pedigree cattle.

"We are appealing to Environment secretary, Hillary Benn to accept the report recommendations along with those made last year by former Government chief scientist Prof David King who also advised that a badger cull would have a 'significant effect' on reducing bTB incidences. That common sense decision needs to be implemented at the very earliest if this insidious disease is to be arrested and a strategic way forward introduced for our beleaguered livestock sector."