The RABDF have united with other farming and veterinary organisations in the UK to create a joint statement on how the government should tackle bovine tuberculosis. In a statement presented to Defra today, the group agreed that badgers in areas heavily affected by TB should be culled.

The group agreed that culling should be carried out by trained contractors engaged by TB management groups and that the industry and Government need to work together to develop a strategy that will allow healthy badgers and cattle to co-exist post-clearance.  

RABDF chairman Tim Brigstocke commented "We fully support the joint industry concerns about the insidious and ever present problem in certain parts of the country. What worries us is that at no time in the numerous documents from Defra re tackling this disease has any mention been made to eradication. Surely that should be the ultimate aim."

To view the stakeholder statement, please click here.