The Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers has welcomed Defra secretary, Caroline Spelman’s announcement this week for an intended licenced badger cull in England as part of a controlled plan to eradicate bovine TB, however it has expressed grave concern that further consultation is required.

“Defra’s plans for a badger cull in two hot spot areas are a significant step forward after waiting for more than 15 years for Government to introduce some form of positive action to control TB which is continuing to spread not only geographically but between species,” says the association’s vice-chairman Ian Macalpine.

“Whilst we understand that there is a need for a final nine week consultation, that period will create more time for those highly organised groups who oppose a badger cull to get their act together and attempt to delay or even prevent any further action. In fact they are already are acting; one organisation had launched a petition opposing the cull and achieved more than 15,000 signatures within 15 hours of Mrs Spelman’s announcement. The industry must be aware that this consultation could not only stall Defra’s proposals but completely stifle them.”