Badger cull ruled out to fight TB in cattle

LONDON (Reuters) - The government said on Monday it would not permit badger culling to tackle tuberculosis (TB) in cattle, risking the anger of farmers.

Instead, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn announced fresh investment for vaccinations for cattle and badgers.

"Our policy will be not to issue any licences to farmers to cull badgers for TB control, although we remain open to the possibility of revisiting this policy under exceptional circumstances, or if new scientific evidence were to become available," Benn told parliament.

Badgers are a wildlife host of bovine TB, which has become a serious problem for livestock producers, particularly in southwest England.

While most strains of the disease are harmless to animals and humans, some forms can lead to leprosy, Johne's disease and avian bird flu.

A cull is strongly opposed by wildlife groups such as the Badger Trust and the animal welfare charity RSPCA, although many cattle farmers support it.

"This has been a very difficult decision to take and I know that farmers affected will be disappointed and angry," Benn said.

"We all want the same thing -- to beat this terrible disease -- but I have had to reach a view about what will be effective in doing so, guided by the science and the practicality of delivering a cull," he added.

Benn said that while a cull might work, it might end up making the disease worse if it was not sustained over time or delivered effectively.

Instead, he announced 20 million pounds of investment into vaccine development over the next three years.