The 2013 pilot badger controls in Gloucestershire, which were set up to help reduce TB in cattle, will come to an end on Saturday November 30 following agreement between Natural England and the company managing operations.
In October 2013, Natural England granted an eight-week licence extension to the company carrying out the pilot controls in Gloucestershire. Badger controls will continue every year for the next three years.
Peter Kendall, NFU President, said: “The company carrying out badger controls in Gloucester has informed the NFU that they will be ceasing badger cull operations on November 30. While the operation has continued to remove badgers on a daily basis, the numbers seen have been steadily reducing as the season has progressed. Therefore, as cage trapping has to cease on 30 November, the cull company has concluded that this is a sensible time to bring operations to a close for this year. The NFU is fully supportive of this decision.
“These pilot culls were set up to demonstrate that removing badgers to help reduce TB in cattle could be carried out humanely, safely and effectively. As operations are continuing it is too early to give a figure on the number of badgers culled, though we understand the Secretary of State will be updating parliament next week.
“It is thanks to the professionalism and organisation of the farmers, landowners and contractors on the ground that the operations have been carried out safely and humanely despite intense provocation and intimidation by some anti-cull protesters.
We look forward to the final independent report on the pilot badger culls expected in the new year and the NFU remains committed to supporting wider roll out to help prevent the spread of this terrible disease.
“TB saw the slaughter of 38,000 cattle in 2012; reducing this disease in our beef and dairy herds remains an absolute priority.”
To find out more about bovine TB and the impact it has on farms, visit www.tbfreeengland.co.uk.