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| Badger cull proposals rejected | Badger cull proposals rejected |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| The government has decided against a cull of badgers to control TB in English cattle, the BBC understands. | The government has decided against a cull of badgers to control TB in English cattle, the BBC understands. |
| The policy announcement, which was due to be made next Monday, goes against the recommendations of the former Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King. | |
| Last year, he told ministers that culling badgers could be effective in controlling the spread of the disease. | Last year, he told ministers that culling badgers could be effective in controlling the spread of the disease. |
| The decision has angered the National Farmers' Union, which claims cattle TB has already cost the industry millions. | The decision has angered the National Farmers' Union, which claims cattle TB has already cost the industry millions. |
| Its president, Peter Kendell, told BBC News that the government had "ducked the issue" and that the NFU would be organising a protest outside parliament next week. | Its president, Peter Kendell, told BBC News that the government had "ducked the issue" and that the NFU would be organising a protest outside parliament next week. |
| Some 4,000 herds were affected with TB in 2007, up nearly 18% on the previous year. | Some 4,000 herds were affected with TB in 2007, up nearly 18% on the previous year. |
| The NFU claims that if left unchecked, the disease would cost the government £1bn in compensation and control measures. It's not practical to carry out that kind of scorched-earth cull over a prolonged period for a policy that may not even work Lord Krebs Send us your comments | The NFU claims that if left unchecked, the disease would cost the government £1bn in compensation and control measures. It's not practical to carry out that kind of scorched-earth cull over a prolonged period for a policy that may not even work Lord Krebs Send us your comments |
| But ministers have instead accepted the scientific arguments of the Independent Scientific Group on TB in Cattle. | But ministers have instead accepted the scientific arguments of the Independent Scientific Group on TB in Cattle. |
| The ISG's analysis - an earlier and much larger study than Sir David's - concluded that culling badgers would not be economic. | The ISG's analysis - an earlier and much larger study than Sir David's - concluded that culling badgers would not be economic. |
| And the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has in the past also said that public acceptance would be a factor in determining the government's policy. | And the Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has in the past also said that public acceptance would be a factor in determining the government's policy. |
| The decision was welcomed by the prominent scientist Lord Krebs. He designed the experiments on the effectiveness of badger culling for the ISG. | The decision was welcomed by the prominent scientist Lord Krebs. He designed the experiments on the effectiveness of badger culling for the ISG. |
| "If this report is true then Hilary Benn has made the right decision," he said. | "If this report is true then Hilary Benn has made the right decision," he said. |
| The ISG's analysis showed that sustained culling over a large area for five or six years might have some effect, "but even that is not clear cut", according to Lord Krebs. | The ISG's analysis showed that sustained culling over a large area for five or six years might have some effect, "but even that is not clear cut", according to Lord Krebs. |
| He said: "It's not practical to carry out that kind of scorched-earth cull over a prolonged period for a policy that may not even work." | He said: "It's not practical to carry out that kind of scorched-earth cull over a prolonged period for a policy that may not even work." |
| According to Lord Krebs, the incidence of TB in cattle is increasing very slowly, and he believes that the disease could be bought under control through better surveillance and biosecurity. | According to Lord Krebs, the incidence of TB in cattle is increasing very slowly, and he believes that the disease could be bought under control through better surveillance and biosecurity. |
| The announcement is sure to be welcomed by badger groups, who have fought a campaign against a mass cull. | The announcement is sure to be welcomed by badger groups, who have fought a campaign against a mass cull. |