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| Farmers attack Bovine TB policy | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Farmers have accused ministers of doing nothing to stop tens of thousands of cattle being slaughtered every year because of Bovine Tuberculosis. | Farmers have accused ministers of doing nothing to stop tens of thousands of cattle being slaughtered every year because of Bovine Tuberculosis. |
| The National Farmers' Union said government policy for dealing with the disease was "unacceptable". | The National Farmers' Union said government policy for dealing with the disease was "unacceptable". |
| Farmers want a cull of badgers, which they say spread the disease to cattle. | Farmers want a cull of badgers, which they say spread the disease to cattle. |
| The Welsh Assembly has approved a limited cull. But in England, Defra has opted to trap and vaccinate badgers in areas with a high incidence of TB. | The Welsh Assembly has approved a limited cull. But in England, Defra has opted to trap and vaccinate badgers in areas with a high incidence of TB. |
| NFU president Peter Kendall said unless the disease was tackled in the wildlife population, it would never be eradicated. | NFU president Peter Kendall said unless the disease was tackled in the wildlife population, it would never be eradicated. |
| Farmers are particularly concerned about TB hotspots such as the West Country. | |
| 'What a waste' | 'What a waste' |
| In Wales, a limited trial cull has been approved where TB has been found in areas not previously thought to have a problem. | In Wales, a limited trial cull has been approved where TB has been found in areas not previously thought to have a problem. |
| While the problem in other parts of Britain appears to be worsening, Scotland has been declared TB free. | While the problem in other parts of Britain appears to be worsening, Scotland has been declared TB free. |
| We live with the silent spread of an infection which wreaks havoc in cattle and wildlife alike and causes untold stress to the farming families whose herds are affected Peter Kendall, NFU president | We live with the silent spread of an infection which wreaks havoc in cattle and wildlife alike and causes untold stress to the farming families whose herds are affected Peter Kendall, NFU president |
| In a message to mark the new year, Mr Kendall asked how the government could "stand by and do nothing" while up to 40,000 cattle were slaughtered every year because of Bovine TB. | In a message to mark the new year, Mr Kendall asked how the government could "stand by and do nothing" while up to 40,000 cattle were slaughtered every year because of Bovine TB. |
| "What a waste; of productive animals, of farmers' investment in their businesses, of taxpayers' money," he said. | "What a waste; of productive animals, of farmers' investment in their businesses, of taxpayers' money," he said. |
| "We live with the silent spread of an infection which wreaks havoc in cattle and wildlife alike and causes untold stress to the farming families whose herds are affected." | "We live with the silent spread of an infection which wreaks havoc in cattle and wildlife alike and causes untold stress to the farming families whose herds are affected." |
| Mr Kendall said no-one was claiming it would be a quick and easy battle. | Mr Kendall said no-one was claiming it would be a quick and easy battle. |
| "Experience here and abroad demonstrates that it will take many years of strict measures, substantial investment and sustained action to get to where we need to be," he said. | "Experience here and abroad demonstrates that it will take many years of strict measures, substantial investment and sustained action to get to where we need to be," he said. |
| "Farmers are prepared to play their part. Let 2010 be the year that government plays its part and puts a genuine eradication plan in place." | "Farmers are prepared to play their part. Let 2010 be the year that government plays its part and puts a genuine eradication plan in place." |
| Some groups, such as the Badger Trust, a charity which promotes the welfare of badgers, argue that it is cattle themselves which mainly transmit the disease and a cull of badgers is unnecessary. | Some groups, such as the Badger Trust, a charity which promotes the welfare of badgers, argue that it is cattle themselves which mainly transmit the disease and a cull of badgers is unnecessary. |