RABDF welcomes Defra’s badger cull decision
16 December 2011
The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has wholeheartedly welcomed Defra secretary, Caroline Spelman’s announcement this week to agree to a badger cull in England.
“We are pleased that Defra has considered all control options and decided that implementing a cull policy is the way forward. This is the announcement we’ve been waiting for for more than 15 years,” commented RABDF chairman, David Cotton.
“Farmers have finally been given the opportunity to be part of a partnership to resolve what amounts to be the biggest issue they face, both those whose herds are already infected and those who are waiting for this insidious disease to raise its head. A carefully managed cull is part of the big jigsaw of TB control and the more tools we can introduce to eradicate TB the better.
“While the six week pilot culls are a step in the right direction, being realistic, it will take a very long time for England to return to its virtual TB free status of the 1960s,” he said adding: “We would encourage the Welsh government to listen to Defra, and without delay introduce a similar carefully managed cull policy which has to be in the best interests of all cattle for the long term future.”
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