The 19,274 dead badgers is almost twice as many as last year after 11 new cull zones were added to a swath of the West Country worst-hit by bovine TB. Farming minister George Eustice announced the authorities would also increase the regularity of testing cattle for bovine TB from annually to six-monthly in high-risk areas. Dominic Dyer, chief executive of the Badger Trust, said: “The badger cull is the worst example of incompetence, negligence and deceit at the heart of the government. Farming minister George Eustice said: “Our comprehensive strategy to eradicate bovine TB is delivering results. She said the research referred to by Defra showing apparent declines in bovine TB in two cull zones was “no more than poor guesswork”.

Source: The Guardian December 21, 2017 17:37 UTC