Industry leaders react to badger cull decision

The badger cull in Wales has been given the go ahead after a High Court legal challenge failed.

The Badger Trust, had sought to quash the Welsh Assembly Government's TB Eradication Order (Wales) 2009 which laid the grounds for the cull.

During a two-day hearing in March the trust's barrister had argued that insufficient weight had been given to alternatives to a cull.

But High Court judge Mr Justice Llloyd Jones threw out the challenge, ruling that the TB Eradication Order was lawful.

It means that culling will begin in an area of west Wales sometime in May once the badger breeding season has ended.

Wales' rural affairs minister, Elin Jones welcomed the judge's decision.

"Bovine TB is one of the biggest problems facing cattle farmers across Wales, and we have to tackle all sources of the disease.

"We are dealing with an epidemic that has serious consequences for us all and we must stamp it out.

"Over the past three years, with advice from experts, we have put in place a comprehensive programme to eradicate TB across Wales.

"This includes more testing of cattle, identifying and getting rid of the disease in cattle at an earlier stage and improving on farm practices.

"We need to read and digest this verdict. In the meantime, we will continue with the preparations in the pilot area."

President of the British Veterinary Association Bill Reilly echoed the minister's sentiments and called for a cull to be introduced in England.

"It is essential that a wide range of measures are employed to tackle this devastating disease and we believe that should include a targeted cull of badgers."

"We will be watching the outcomes of the measures in Wales closely and hope that, if successful, these measures will be replicated in other areas of the UK," said Prof Reilly.

And NFU president Peter Kendall added: "We are pleased to hear that the court has dismissed the Badger Trust's challenge and we will now read the detail of the judgment carefully.

"There is no single solution to bovine TB - neither cattle controls nor wildlife control in isolation will work. We need to see a comprehensive control plan that deals with all sources of the disease."

16 April 2010