The NFU has asked the government to keep wildlife control as an option in battling bovine TB after Labour confirmed it would ban culling.
The union has today met with Lord Benyon, Minister of State for Defra, to stress the need for the government’s continued bTB eradication strategy to be based on 'sound scientific evidence'.
The call comes a month after a new scientific paper demonstrated the effectiveness of including badger culling as part of a holistic strategy to help eradicate bTB from England.
The Birch Review shows that bTB in herds can be reduced by 56% in areas where there has been four years of culling.
It follows the independent Godfray review recommending wildlife control as an important part of the current TB eradication strategy.
NFU deputy president Tom Bradshaw said the current strategy was based on scientific research that showed a significant reduction of bTB in cattle.
He said it was 'concerning' to hear reports that a Labour government would not include culling within its strategy to make England bTB free.
"The recent Birch paper shows further evidence that bTB in herds can be reduced by more than 50% in areas where there has been four years of culling," Mr Bradshaw explained.
“Bovine TB should not be a political issue; it is a disease that affects the lives of farming families and their cattle herds on a day-to-day basis.
"We have a joint ambition with government to be bTB free in England by 2038, and we must keep the policies in place to combat this disease."
Cattle vaccination trials are underway, and a workable vaccine for cattle would likely be a significant tool to have as part of a range of measures to control bTB, if proved successful in the field.
But Mr Bradshaw said the government must "keep all of the tools" while vaccination trials continue.
"We’re not there yet and while we wait, we mustn’t become complacent with this disease," he said.
“We will continue to work with all political parties to ensure the importance of this scientific evidence is understood, to enable a future we all want; a country with a TB free status.”
