Action called for over bovine TB

Many farmers believe badgers spread the disease in cattle

Farmers have called for more government action after six cases of bovine tuberculosis were reported in west Cornwall.

The cases were all in the Lizard Peninsula, which farmers said had previously been free of the disease.

The number of cases has been rising by about 20% every year across the county.

Defra said it recognised the disease was on the increase and it was committed to working with the farming industry to decide what action to take.

But Jacquelyn Jenkin, whose Holstein Friesian herd has been hit at her farm in St Martin, wants the government to act immediately.

Vaccine development

She is the vice-chaiman of the West Cornwall National Farmers' Union (NFU), which favours a cull of badgers which many people blame for the spread of bovine TB>.

"We have a closed herd and we have a problem now which needs to be sorted," Ms Jenkin told BBC News.

"We don't bring cattle in. Most of our animals, including some pedigree cows, have been bred right here on the farm, which makes it even more upsetting because we live and breathe dairy farming.

"They [the government] need to get out into the countryside and control badger numbers and cull the sick ones."

But in July Environment Secretary Hilary Benn decided against a mass cull, saying it was "impractical" and "publicly unacceptable".

Mr Benn said the disease should be controlled through better surveillance and biosecurity and more money would be available for the development of a vaccine.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version