TFA welcomes first steps towards TB eradication strategy

The Tenant Farmers Association has given a cautious welcome to today’s announcement from Government setting out its intention to select two pilot areas to allow badger culling to take place with the aim of eradicating bovine TB.

TFA National Chairman Jeremy Walker said "After many years of waiting we welcome these first steps towards a coherent and sustainable strategy to eradicate bovine TB. Cattle controls have been in place for many years but have proved ineffective on their own to control this terrible disease. Every year, tens of thousands of otherwise healthy animals which contract this disease have to be destroyed. The impact on farm businesses, farm families and rural communities has been and continues to be devastating and I am glad that we can now begin to use control measures which do not involve having one arm tied behind our backs."

’The TFA is committed to working with the Government to ensure that any cull is carried out as humanely and efficiently as possible. We take no delight in the process of culling but truly believe that we have no other choice if we are to see bovine TB being brought under control and eradicated into the long-term. The Government will have the TFA’s full co-operation in ensuring that the procedures and licence arrangements are as robust as necessary to ensure that the highest standards of animal welfare are maintained in the context of an efficient cull,’ said Mr Walker.

’It is important that we learn lessons from these pilots quickly in order to ensure a smooth and successful roll-out of essential culls to other parts of the country were TB continues to be a major problem. The quicker that we get to a situation of maintaining a population of both healthy badgers and healthy cattle the better," said Mr Walker.