Badger cull proposals rejected

Badgers have been blamed for the spread of TB in cattle The government has decided against a cull of badgers to control TB in English cattle, the BBC understands. The policy announcement, which was due to be made next Monday, goes against the recommendations of the former Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir David King. Last year, he told ministers that culling badgers could be effective in controlling the spread of the disease. The decision has angered the National Farmers' Union which claims cattle TB has already cost the industry millions. Its president, Peter Kendell, told BBC News that the government had "ducked the issue" and that the NFU would be organising a protest outside parliament next week. Some 4,000 herds were affected with TB in 2007, up nearly 18% on the previous year. The NFU claims that if left unchecked, the... [read full story]