The NFU has reiterated its commitment to working with the government and Natural England to help deliver a safe, effective and humane badger control policy to stop the spread of TB.
Responding to the consultation Guidance to Natural England on the Implementation of a Badger Control Policy, the NFU has said it is vital that the policy and licence conditions are both practical and can be delivered by industry to ensure a meaningful impact is made on the terrible disease.
NFU members can read our consultation submission by clicking on the link to the right of this page (requires log-in).
NFU President Peter Kendall said: “We are supportive of the announcement made by the Secretary of State back in July; we want to see an effective, carefully managed and science-led policy of badger controls. And let’s not underestimate the difference these control measures will make to farming families. Bovine Tuberculosis is one of the main issues affecting livestock farmers, our farming communities and, if left unchecked, the wider countryside.
“We have said that for a badger control policy to work effectively it must be part of a range of measures to eradicate bovine TB. This includes a combination of existing cattle tests, movement restrictions, the slaughter of test-positive animals, good on-farm biosecurity and, longer-term, vaccination. We are confident that farmers and wildlife managers are ready and able to meet the challenges ahead. We have planned and are fully prepared to put in place self-financing groups that will meet the requirements of the proposals.
“In our response we have set out very clearly how industry can deliver a humane and effective cull. I want to stress that the NFU is committed to help coordinate, plan and establish control groups to carry out badger controls in those areas blighted by TB. We take the challenges this brings very seriously; this is not going to be a short-term fix and we are fully prepared for that.
“Provided that ministers take heed of the points we have made in our submission, so that their culling policy becomes a practical proposition, then I am confident that the industry can achieve a consistently effective and humane cull which provides significant, long term benefits for farmers, for government, for the countryside and for the taxpayer.”
No comments have been made.