TB badger cull 'not cost effective'

Independent government advisors have found using a cull to reduce cattle TB would work to a degree but would have to be so extensive as to be uneconomical, according to the BBC.

Data for the research came from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, sometimes known as the Krebs trial after Sir John Krebs, the government scientist who instigated it.

It showed that culling was associated with increased TB in badgers, with areas which had received four culls seeing a doubling of the rate of infection, the BBC said.

It appears badgers move more freely and more widely in culled areas, therefore increasing contact with each other, according to the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB (ISG), which conducted the study.

The ISG is a group of independent scientists who advise the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on how best to tackle the problem of cattle TB.

The Government is currently considering whether to introduce a cull, though a consultation mounted recently by Defra suggested public opinion is firmly against such a move.

ISG chairman, Professor John Bourne, said there was a beneficial effect to be gained from culling badgers but that there was also a detrimental effect.

He told Radio 4's Farming Today: "Within the culled area you get a reduction in cattle TB incidents of 23% but in the surrounding area, the cattle incidence of TB is increased by 25% so on balance that leaves 2 - a very minimal or modest impact of culling on the cattle disease."

Prof Bourne added: "One has to recognise that what we are dealing with is primarily a disease of cattle, although badgers in hot spot areas do make a significant contribution.

"The dilemma for farmers and for ministers is that there is no sustainable way of treating the badger issue. If they do embark on a badger culling policy, it is quite clear that will have no impact - direct impact or meaningful impact - on controlling the disease in cattle and it could make it worse."