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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Decision due on major badger cull | Decision due on major badger cull |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Britain's first major cull of badgers to combat tuberculosis in cattle could be announced later. | Britain's first major cull of badgers to combat tuberculosis in cattle could be announced later. |
| The decision to eradicate the mammals within a defined geographical area is expected to be announced by Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones. | The decision to eradicate the mammals within a defined geographical area is expected to be announced by Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones. |
| The controversial move would be one of a series of measures to tackle the disease - a growing problem in Wales. | The controversial move would be one of a series of measures to tackle the disease - a growing problem in Wales. |
| Farmers have long blamed badgers for spreading bovine TB but animal groups say evidence does not support this. | Farmers have long blamed badgers for spreading bovine TB but animal groups say evidence does not support this. |
| Ms Jones is expected to announce the attempt as part of a wider programme to tackle TB, which will include better and more rigorous testing of cattle. | |
| Major problem | Major problem |
| There has been limited badger culling before but if plans to eradicate all badgers within a defined, geographical area go ahead, it will be the first time in Britain that such a wide-scale measure has been used to control the disease. | There has been limited badger culling before but if plans to eradicate all badgers within a defined, geographical area go ahead, it will be the first time in Britain that such a wide-scale measure has been used to control the disease. |
| Bovine TB is recognised as a major problem in Wales. | Bovine TB is recognised as a major problem in Wales. |
| Under the current policy cattle are slaughtered if they fail routine tests, with farmers who lose cows compensated. | Under the current policy cattle are slaughtered if they fail routine tests, with farmers who lose cows compensated. |
| Last year more than £15m was paid out to Welsh farmers in compensation for infected animals. | Last year more than £15m was paid out to Welsh farmers in compensation for infected animals. |
| In February, a report by the environment select committee in England also backed calls for a limited cull, primarily in the south-west of England, which saw the number of cases rise nearly 18% between 2006 and 2007. | In February, a report by the environment select committee in England also backed calls for a limited cull, primarily in the south-west of England, which saw the number of cases rise nearly 18% between 2006 and 2007. |
| It is estimated that, if left unchecked, the disease is likely to spread across all of the UK by 2012. | It is estimated that, if left unchecked, the disease is likely to spread across all of the UK by 2012. |
| Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
| The committee said disorganised culling could make matters worse. | The committee said disorganised culling could make matters worse. |
| Rather, the report advised that action should be focused on TB hotspots and form part of a package of control measures - such as better testing and surveillance of cattle. | Rather, the report advised that action should be focused on TB hotspots and form part of a package of control measures - such as better testing and surveillance of cattle. |
| How to deal with the problem causes deep divisions. | How to deal with the problem causes deep divisions. |
| Many farmers say badgers are to blame for infecting their herds and want a widespread cull. | Many farmers say badgers are to blame for infecting their herds and want a widespread cull. |
| Farmers' Union of Wales vice president Brian Walters said: "We are hoping to see some sort of cull of badgers so we can see a control of the disease in wildlife. At the moment it's running rampant. | |
| "The area of the cull has to be large enough to have any effect and it has to be over a period of 10 years. | |
| "Let's not kid ourselves that this is something you can solve in six months or a year." | |
| But conservationists have urged the Welsh Assembly Government to reject the proposal, saying badgers are being wrongly victimised for an illness brought on by modern, intensive farming. | |
| Steve Clarke from the Badger Trust Cymru said a 10 year study concluded that culling badgers would make no meaningful contribution in controlling TB amongst cattle. | |
| An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "If it's an announcement to cull then we would find that absolutely shocking and we would ask the minister to think again, because it flies in the face of sound scientific judgment. One wonders why anybody would contemplate it." | An RSPCA spokeswoman said: "If it's an announcement to cull then we would find that absolutely shocking and we would ask the minister to think again, because it flies in the face of sound scientific judgment. One wonders why anybody would contemplate it." |