 Badgers are blamed by farmers for the spread of bovine TB |
The spread of tuberculosis among South West cattle is to be brought to the attention of a government minister. Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw has recently been made a minister for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
He is having a meeting with the regional director of the National Farmers' Union, Anthony Gibson, on Friday.
Mr Gibson is demanding direct action over the problem.
Badgers blamed
Mr Gibson says figures for the first quarter of this year back his demands.
The number of new tuberculosis (TB) outbreaks in the South West year on year is up by 21%, while the number of cattle slaughtered because of the disease has risen by 42%.
As the debate rages over whether badgers are to blame and need to be culled, Mr Gibson says enough is enough.
He claims TB is a disease that is on the verge of running out of control.
Cow vaccine
He will be putting this to Mr Bradshaw and demanding the government take action.
He wants to see infected badgers culled outside the current trial areas.
He also wants to see more help for farms struck down by TB and more investment in finding a vaccine for the cows.
The meeting is taking place on an organic farm near Exeter.
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