RSPCA’s Chief Scientific Officer Dr Julia Wrathall said: “We welcome the fact that this review shifts the focus from badgers to cattle. However, we are concerned that despite overwhelming epidemiological evidence to the contrary, it continues to maintain that culling can be effective and leaves the door open for government to continue this ineffectual policy.

“As stated in the report, the controversy about the badger cull has deflected from what more can be done by farmers and by the livestock industry to help control the disease and we support recommendations for the farming industry to take increased ownership of these issues. It is important that the first line of defence should be on the farm with good bio-security measures, more comprehensive testing and a reduction of cattle trading from high risk to low risk areas.

“We all want the same outcome - to end the scourge of bovine TB and the devastating impact it has on farmers and animals.   Blaming badgers has stalled vital research and investment to find more effective solutions that would save the lives of cattle and move away from the current futile killing of badgers.

“With regard to governance of bTB policy and the review’s suggestion of setting up a new body, the RSPCA remains cautious.  While it would welcome a more flexible, evidence-based approach, especially in light of the major flaws in the current government-owned approach, the RSPCA looks forward to seeing more details to ensure that such a body would effectively consult with all parties.”

The Wildlife Trusts expressd huge disappointment saying:

“ We believe that cattle and not badgers should be the focus of efforts to eradicate bTB. We support the review’s recommendation that the focus of the strategy should be shifted to addressing the transmission of bTB between cattle. This is the main route of infection.”

They called on the government to:

• Halt the badger cull now.
• Invest in and promote a strategy for badger vaccination. This should be led and funded by the government, across England.
• Invest more time and resource in supporting improved farm biosecurity and movement controls.
• Accelerate development of more effective tests for bTB in cattle and put serious investment into a bTB cattle vaccine. This is a cattle problem, not a wildlife problem.

NFU Vice President Stuart Roberts said: “Bovine TB is a devastating disease. Last year more than 33,000 cattle were slaughtered in England because of it and more than 3,800 farms that had been clear of the disease were affected by it.

“The NFU wishes to see the eradication of bTB as quickly as possible while retaining a viable cattle industry. To tackle this disease it is crucial that we use every tool available to us, including cattle testing, cattle movement controls, on-farm biosecurity, vaccination and control of the reservoir of disease in wildlife in areas where it is endemic.

“No farmer has ever wanted to see their herd affected by this horrible and complex disease. The industry has stepped up to work with Government in tackling bTB. Farmers are already taking a range of steps to protect themselves against this disease, with measures like securing feed stores, double fencing fields to stop nose-to-nose contact with cattle on adjoining farms, and preventing wildlife accessing buildings to help mitigate the risk of the disease spreading. The Godfray review suggests more can be done but the question many cattle keepers have is which measures bring the greatest disease control benefits.”