Welsh badger cull due to begin in April

A five-year programme to cull badgers on 350 livestock farms in west Wales will begin as early as April, the Welsh Assembly Government has announced.

The assembly sanctioned the TB Eradication (Wales) Order 2009 last September but had been awaiting the outcome of an independent ecological study.

But on Wednesday (13 January) rural affairs minister, Elin Jones, said she was satisfied that the approach was compatible with legislation and announced a limited badger cull within a 288sq km area would take place over a 12-14 week period once the breeding season had ended in April.

The minister said the would cost £9m over five years and include stricter movement and biosecurity measures. The effects of this approach will be evaluated and reported annually, she confirmed.

A map of the pilot area will not be released but the minister explained that it would incorporate an area within the natural boundaries of the sea, the Preseli Hill and the Rivers Teifi and Cych.

Although every farm in Wales will be subject to a TB test this year, farms in the pilot area which frequently move cattle will be tested twice a year and every cattle farm will be given biosecurity advice by their own vet.

The cull will go ahead despite a judicial review lodged by the Badger Trust. Elin Jones said the relevant legislation was already in place. “There is nothing to stop us proceeding,” she said. “We have the legal powers to undertake this work and the judicial review will take its course.”

Only seven of the 1500 landowners in the area have refused access but a cull will still go ahead on these farms. “The TB Order gives us the power to carry on with this activity on farms that don’t want to co-operate but we would much rather work on a co-operation basis,” said the chief veterinary officer for Wales, Dr Christianne Glossop.

She said police would ensure the security of farmers and people involved in the cull.