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Minister plans pilot badger cull | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A "targeted cull" of badgers has been announced as part of a plans in Wales to eradicate tuberculosis in cattle. | |
The location of the area and details of the cull have yet to be decided. | |
The welsh Assembly Government's plan includes a one-off test of all cattle and a review of the compensation system, rural affairs minister Elin Jones announced. | |
Wales' chief veterinary officer said bovine TB was out of control and the current policy was not working. | |
In a briefing on Tuesday, Christianne Glossop said incidents had increased dramatically over the last decade. | |
Compensation payments to farmers have risen from £1.3m in 1999-2000 to £15.2m in 2007-2008. | |
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. |
Announcing her decision to AMs in Cardiff Bay, Ms Jones said: "This is a difficult decision to take and it has not been taken ightly. | |
"I am very aware of the strong views on this issue." | |
Deep divisions | Deep divisions |
There has been limited badger culling before but to eradicate all badgers within a defined, geographical will be the first time in Britain that such a wide-scale measure has been used to control the disease. | |
Under the current policy cattle are slaughtered if they fail routine tests, with farmers who lose cows compensated. | |
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. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
There was badger gassing from 1975, after a bovine TB outbreak in Dorset, until 1982, when badgers became a protected species. | There was badger gassing from 1975, after a bovine TB outbreak in Dorset, until 1982, when badgers became a protected species. |
There was some trapping and shooting in the 1980s, until trials were held over the last 10 years to look at the evidence for the likely effect of culling. | There was some trapping and shooting in the 1980s, until trials were held over the last 10 years to look at the evidence for the likely effect of culling. |
The coalition deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru in the Welsh Assembly Government has led to a commitment to attempt to eradicate TB in cattle, with £27m being allocated over the next three years for this purpose. | The coalition deal between Labour and Plaid Cymru in the Welsh Assembly Government has led to a commitment to attempt to eradicate TB in cattle, with £27m being allocated over the next three years for this purpose. |
Conservative rural affairs spokesman Brynle Williams AM said the announcement would be welcomed by farmers. | |
"Clearly there will be opposition from wildlife groups to these proposals," he said. | |
"However, this decision comes after a lengthy, comprehensive inquiry by the assembly rural affairs committee." |