The NFU has welcomed the Defra Secretary of State’s statement today in which he said he believes that the badger control pilot operations to date have been carried out safely, effectively and humanely.
He also advised that Natural England had received an application to extend the licence for Somerset though a decision on this had not yet been taken.
An application for Gloucestershire was also expected.
NFU President Peter Kendall said he understood that the companies managing the two pilot areas had gone to great lengths to ensure the operations had been carried out safely and humanely and he welcomed Owen Paterson’s recognition of the work that had been carried out.
“After the Secretary of State’s comments today on the progress that has been made, I want to thank those involved in carrying out what is a very important first step on the long road towards eradicating TB in cattle, in badgers and from our countryside,” said Mr Kendall. “Safety and humaneness are two really important tests.
“I am also pleased to hear confirmation from the government chief vet that the current cull operations in Somerset to date will deliver disease reduction as part of a four-year plan.
“I understand that the company carrying out the cull in Somerset has applied to Natural England to extend the culling period to enhance its disease control. They made this application towards the end of the six-week pilot cull and I understand that a decision will be taken this week whether to extend the licence.
“The knowledge learned from these two badger cull pilot areas will be invaluable in helping to deliver future roll out of badger control operations in areas where the incidence of TB is rife.
“Our absolute focus, and that of everyone involved, is disease control. More than 38,000 cattle were slaughtered in Great Britain in 2012 because of bovine TB. These badger cull pilots are a very important first step in what is a 25-year strategy to eradicate this terrible and infectious disease,” said Mr Kendall.
The NFU will not comment further on operations while they are taking place.
An independent group will continue to monitor the badger cull and will report on its findings once the operations are completed.