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Badger cull pilot due to start in England Anti-badger cull rally held in London as pilot culls begin
(about 5 hours later)
Culling of badgers as part of plans to tackle TB in cattle is set to get under way in the face of opposition. Several hundred people have attended a rally in London to oppose badger culls aimed at tackling TB in cattle.
Groups of farmers have been given licences to conduct culls under conditions which include having trained marksmen to shoot free-running badgers.Groups of farmers have been given licences to conduct culls under conditions which include having trained marksmen to shoot free-running badgers.
The cull can take place over any continuous six-week period until 1 February next year. The cull can take place over any continuous six-week period until 1 December next year.
Opponents have said the cull will not make a "meaningful difference" in reducing TB levels in cattle.Opponents have said the cull will not make a "meaningful difference" in reducing TB levels in cattle.
'Terrible price''Terrible price'
Gavin Grant, from the RSPCA, said: "Thirty of this country's leading scientists have given their opinion on this cull and they oppose it. During the rally, Queen guitarist Brian May renewed calls for the government to drop its plans for the cull.
"They oppose it because it doesn't make a meaningful difference to bovine TB in cattle. You may get a minor improvement but at a terrible price of the slaughter of thousands of badgers." He said: "The great bit of new information is it has now been demonstrated that the cull cannot make economic sense.
"It will lose the taxpayer money rather than save it.
"That was really the last shred of reason that you could give for this cull going ahead. It is a very good time for Mr Cameron to reconsider and withdraw from this monstrous cull, in the public interest."
The government said the cull was necessary as part of efforts to stop spiralling numbers of outbreaks of TB in dairy and beef herds, which saw 28,000 cattle slaughtered in England last year.The government said the cull was necessary as part of efforts to stop spiralling numbers of outbreaks of TB in dairy and beef herds, which saw 28,000 cattle slaughtered in England last year.
Without action, infection and costs would continue to soar, officials said.Without action, infection and costs would continue to soar, officials said.
'Safely and efficiently'
Labour, which is against the cull, has tabled an opposition debate in the Commons for Wednesday.
A YouGov poll released on Friday showed 34% of people oppose a cull, with 29% in support and the remainder, who said they did not know or did not have any strong feelings about the plans.
A long-term study has shown that culling 70% of badgers in an area could reduce the disease in herds by 16%.
In west Gloucestershire the aim is to shoot up to 2,932 badgers in the first year of the cull.In west Gloucestershire the aim is to shoot up to 2,932 badgers in the first year of the cull.
In west Somerset, the target is 2,162 badgers, bringing the total number to 5,094 in this period.In west Somerset, the target is 2,162 badgers, bringing the total number to 5,094 in this period.
A third area - Dorset - is being considered for a cull, but a licence is not yet in place.
This will equate to about 70 badgers being killed every night in west Gloucestershire and about 50 a night in west Somerset.This will equate to about 70 badgers being killed every night in west Gloucestershire and about 50 a night in west Somerset.
Farming minister David Heath said: "What we're trying to see in these pilot culls is whether it can be done humanely, safely and efficiently."Farming minister David Heath said: "What we're trying to see in these pilot culls is whether it can be done humanely, safely and efficiently."
The farming minister has added that these culls were part of a wider strategy to improve bio-security and that vaccines - suggested by opponents of the cull - were not ready yet and could not be used effectively. He said these culls were part of a wider strategy to improve bio-security and that vaccines - suggested by opponents of the cull - were not ready yet and could not be used effectively.
He added other countries such as Ireland and New Zealand had adopted "similar policies" successfully to deal with the issue. He said other countries such as Ireland and New Zealand had adopted "similar policies" successfully to deal with the issue.