More than 90% of South West farmers support a badger cull

Totnes MP Anthony Steen had asked farm and environment department Defra to reveal the statistics.

Environment Secretary Hilary Benn's answers showed Devon's tally for infected cattle was just below 30% of the total across the country.

Yet statistics show Devon is home to just 10% of the cattle in England.

This is not a battle on badgers, it's a battle on the disease itself Ian Johnson, National Farmers' Union

Mr Steen said he had raised the questions to highlight concerns of farmers in his constituency who believe a badger cull could be the only effective way of solving the growing number of infections.

He said: "The figures say it all and yet the government refuses to take the one step farmers and the chief vet have called for - a badger cull.

"How many more stories like that of Gordon Tully of Waddeton, who has seen the culling of 21 of his pedigree herd, will it take?"

Defra has admitted tuberculosis in cattle is one of its biggest problems.

'Public acceptability'

According to a survey by the National Farmers' Union (NFU) and the Country Land and Business Association, 94% of farmers in the South West support the idea of a badger cull as a way of controlling bovine TB.

But while farmers may be in favour of a cull, a government consultation of more than 47,000 people suggested more than 95% of people opposed it.

Last month, Mr Benn said any cull decision would be based on the science, impact of the proposed measures, the practicalities and its "public acceptability".

He cited a 10-year study by the Independent Scientific Group on bovine TB which concluded a cull could not "meaningfully contribute" to the control of the disease in cattle.

Mr Benn added he would await a report by the Environment Food and Rural Affairs select committee before making a decision.

But Ian Johnson, from the NFU, told BBC News the scientific advice was that TB affected a number of species and was endemic in badgers.

"It's a vicious circle which is getting worse and worse," he said.

"If you don't do anything about the badgers, you won't control the TB."

Mr Johnson said the effects of the disease on animals, including badgers, were horrendous.

"This is not a battle on badgers, it's a battle on the disease itself," he added.