Badger cull costs greater than financial benefits

The economic costs of carrying out the proposed badger cull to prevent TB in cattle will be greater than the financial benefits, and the taxpayer will pick up the bill, experts have concluded in an economic assessment of culling.

For every 150-square-kilometre plot of land where badger culling takes place, the total costs will come to around £1.55m while the total savings in terms of TB prevention in cattle will amount to about £970,000, said John McInerney emeritus professor of agricultural policy at the University of Exeter.