The UK government's chief scientist advised ministers that badgers should be killed to prevent the spread of TB among cattle, the BBC has learned.
The UK government's chief scientist advised ministers that badgers should be killed to prevent the spread of TB among cattle, the BBC has learned.
Sir David King's report appears to contradict a previous study that said culling badgers would be ineffective in controlling the spread of the disease.
Sir David King says culling could be effective in areas that are contained, for example, by the sea or motorways.
His report appears to contradict a previous study that said culling badgers would be ineffective.
The Independent Scientific Group found that targeting one site would only cause badgers to flee to other farms.
The Independent Scientific Group found that targeting one site would only cause badgers to flee to other farms.
The National Farmers' Union said a cull was necessary to curb TB in cattle.
Sir David told the BBC "now is the time for action".
Figures from the union suggest the number of cases of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) had risen by as much as 18% in the past year, to nearly 2,500.
"We cannot solve the problem by looking at cattle alone so we come back to where we have been for the last 15 or 20 years, looking at how to deal with the problem in badgers as well," he said.
The independent group's (ISG) findings, published in June, said that badgers did play a role in the spread of bTB, but it warned that the culling would have to be so extensive it would be uneconomical.
About 2,500 cattle a year get bovine tuberculosis (bTB), and some 30,000 stock are killed every year because of the disease, according to the National Farmers' Union.
BADGER CULL TRIALS 30 areas of the country, each 100 square km10 culled proactively, 10 reactively, 10 not culledBadgers culled through being caught in cage and then shotIncidence of bovine TB measured on farms inside and outside study areasReactive culling suspended in 2003 after significant rise in infectionTrial cost £7m per year
The union said a cull was necessary to curb TB in cattle.
Professor John Bourne, author of the ISG report, said there were "great inconsistencies" in Sir David's own study.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it welcomed Sir David's report and would consider its recommendations.
"There are a number of issues which need to be discussed further and we would welcome the opportunity," he told the BBC.
'Counterproductive'
"We are surprised that opportunity hasn't been taken before now. The report was prepared very quickly following the publication of our own report in June."
The independent group's (ISG) findings, published in June, said badgers did play a role in the spread of bTB.
However, it warned that the culling would have to be so extensive it would be uneconomical.
Professor John Bourne, author of the ISG report, said there were "great inconsistencies" in Sir David's report.
He said Sir David's recommendations were not consistent with the scientific findings of his report but were "consistent with the political need to do something about it".
He said Sir David's recommendations were not consistent with the scientific findings of his report but were "consistent with the political need to do something about it".
Elimination
"If you wish to go down the culling route, you have to do what the Irish are doing in large parts of their country and that is eliminate," he added.
"If you wish to go down the culling route, you have to do what the Irish are doing in large parts of their country and that is eliminate," he added.
"Our findings show that if you don't want to go that far, then culling badgers will be counterproductive."
"Our findings show that if you don't want to go that far, then culling badgers will be counterproductive."
The ISG assessed the results of a nine year experiment to discover whether killing badgers would stem the spread of disease.
Elimination
It found that although TB infection dropped in the immediate area of the cull, it increased on adjoining farms, effectively shifting rather than solving the problem.
The ISG assessed the results of a nine-year experiment to discover whether killing badgers would stem the spread of disease.
But Sir David King has concluded that culling could be effective if the culling was in areas that are contained, for example, by the sea or motorways.
The problem we are up against is everyone has the image of lovely, fluffy badgers galloping about, but cows are also entitled to lives Farmer Peter Ganblett It found that although TB infection dropped in the immediate area of the cull, it increased on adjoining farms, in effect shifting rather than solving the problem.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said it welcomed Sir David's report and would consider its recommendations.
Dr Richard Yarnell from the Badger Trust said the latest report amounted to a "shameful political fix" and it "beggared belief" that the government was even thinking about implementing a cull.
While most cattle farmers were likely to support a cull, it would prove unpopular with the public.
Peter Kendall, president of the National Farmers' Union, told the BBC the disease was "devastating" many farming communities and the government should take heed of the new recommendation.
"This is the chief scientific officer to the government, so I'm hoping that this will be treated with great seriousness by the government and they will take a positive decision on the back of it," he said.
Farmer Peter Ganblett from Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, said farmers had exhausted all the advised preventative measures, including putting feed troughs higher and trying to keep badgers out of buildings.
"All those things we have done to no avail because the one aspect no one has been prepared to look at is the link between cattle and badgers," he said.
BADGER CULL TRIALS 30 areas of the country, each 100 square km10 culled proactively, 10 reactively, 10 not culledBadgers culled through being caught in cage and then shotIncidence of bovine TB measured on farms inside and outside study areasReactive culling suspended in 2003 after significant rise in infectionTrial cost £7m per year
"The problem we are up against is everyone has the image of lovely, fluffy badgers galloping about, but cows are also entitled to lives.
"We are doing all we can to control it in cattle and we need to be able to control it in badgers."
While most cattle farmers may support a cull, it would prove unpopular with the public.
A government consultation of more than 47,000 people found that more than 95% of people were opposed to the idea.
A government consultation of more than 47,000 people found that more than 95% of people were opposed to the idea.
Ministers are currently deciding whether to introduce badger culling as a way to prevent the spread of TB among cattle.
Would you support a cull of badgers? Is this the best way of preventing the spread of TB? Send us your comments using the form below:
