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Government says badger cull will not eradicate TB until 2038

The Environment Secretary has defended the cull Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire

The Environment Secretary has told farmers that culling badgers will not get rid of bovine TB in the UK for more than two decades.

The controversial cull in parts of West Somerset and Gloucestershire is part of a range of measures including controls on the movement of cattle and better monitoring.

Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, defended the cull as she spoke at the Oxford Farming Conference. She also promised dairy farmers, the main victims of the bovine TB outbreaks, that the government would target more support at the dairy industry.

“This government is taking action to deal with this disease. This is not something that can be achieved overnight. Our strategy is focused on eradicating it by 2038.

“It is not easy, but we will do the right thing even if the protest groups don’t like it. Our comprehensive strategy involves cattle movement controls, vaccination in the edge areas and culling where the disease is rife.

"We know from the experience in Australia where the disease has been eradicated, and in Ireland and New Zealand where it is being dramatically reduced, that this approach works.”

– Elizabeth Truss, Environment Secretary