Unsafe Farming Practices Are a Growing Concern

Badger culling should be given the go-ahead to tackle bovine TB (bTB) in England's disease hotspots – but only under certain conditions, a committee of MPs said.

Whitehall's Environment, food and rural affairs committee (Efra) said farmers must accept it would not form a cornerstone of government policy.

The committee, which yesterday issued a long-awaited report into the disease, said a cull could not be applied nationwide, citing scientific evidence that "patchy, disorganised or short-term" culling could make things worse.

The MPs, who admitted the disease was "one of the most serious animal health problems" in Britain today, said current methods of surveillance, testing and slaughter were not working.

They urged a multi-faceted approach, targeting the disease in both cattle and wildlife, with more frequent testing for TB and the introduction of post-movement testing in low-risk areas.

The committee's conclusions closely mirror a parallel report published last month by the Welsh Assembly rural development sub committee.

It said limited badger culls in Wales should be part of a "suite of measures" to tackle the disease.

Yesterday's Welsh Assembly plenary session heard sub-committee chairman Alun Davies claim the Welsh countryside is "sick" in areas affected by bTB.

NFU Cymru said an urgent prescription was now needed.

Rural affairs minister Elin Jones told plenary she was "serious" about tackling the disease and would deliver a full statement in early April.