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Farmers urged to back badger cull plan

Seeking to counter the efforts of the animal welfare groups in Welsh Consultation....

FARMERS WEEKLY
07 December 2010 | Debbie James

Welsh farmers are being urged to take part in the latest Assembly Government consultation on badger culling to avoid anti-cull campaigners hijacking the issue.

With the 17 December deadline fast approaching, Farmers Union of Wales bovine TB spokesman, Brian Walters, said:"We should be in no doubt that there are many members of the public who will respond negatively to the Welsh badger cull consultation.

"They are completely unaffected by this terrible disease, and have been lulled by the wildlife groups into believing that culling does not work and is therefore futile," said Mr Walters.

"It is therefore important that farmers make their support for the cull known to the Welsh Assembly Government, as it is they who are directly affected by TB, and are on the front line in the battle against the disease."

English and Scottish farmers are also expected to respond to the consultation because levels of bovine TB in Wales can affect them directly.

Farming unions have provided opportunities to respond on their websites. Rural affairs minister Elin Jones had reported a good response to the consultation, but was keen to gather more views ahead of the deadline.

"I have read and considered carefully the science and evidence of culling and other strategies before coming to my provisional view that a cull of badgers in the Intensive Action Area is necessary," she said.

"I launched a consultation on my proposals for a cull in September this year, and so far we have had a good response."

But more opinion is being sought. "This is the final chance for anyone who has yet to respond to let us have their views," she said. "All responses will be taken into consideration before I take a decision next year."

Under the proposals, there would be an annual, government-managed cull of badgers over a five-year period in a specified area of west Wales. The cull would take place alongside the strict additional cattle controls already introduced in the Intensive Action Area.

The consultation comes after a previous attempt by the assembly government to introduce a cull was thwarted following a legal challenge by the Badger Trust.

Consultation documents and the evidence considered by the Rural Affairs Minister is available on the Welsh Assembly Government website (www.wales.gov.uk/bovinetb) or in libraries in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

 

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