A DECISION is expected imminently on whether farmers will be allowed to cull TB-infected badgers on their land but no culling is expected to take place in Northumberland, which is free from the disease.

Although two cases of bovine TB have recently been identified in Cumbria, the North East and Scotland have no cases of infection.

Hans Porksen, NFU regional livestock chairman, said: “Northumberland is on a four-year testing regime, which means it is classified as a relatively low-risk area.

“We’ve had the odd case over the years which has always been traced back to a contact with the infected area.”

He said that Animal Health says Northumberland wildlife is free from TB, so cattle in the county are not at risk.

“There’s no need to kill badgers [in the North East] at all; farmers have no objection to healthy badgers.

“Some of my friends in Devon which is rife with the disease, quite welcome a healthy sett of badgers because they keep the infected ones out.”

Mr Porksen said badgers live in close family groups, and if one member was infected, the whole sett would suffer from the disease.

He said: “We want healthy badgers and healthy cows. There’s absolutely no need for anyone to shoot badgers here and the farmers full understand that.”

Earlier this week, scientists said evidence from a four-year culling trial in an infected area showed that “coordinated, sustained and simultaneous” culling could be expected to lead to a net reduction of around 16% in the number of herds hit by bovine TB.

Defra denied reports that farmers in infected areas would be permitted to ‘shoot on sight’ if they spotted badgers on their land.

But it refused to go into details about the Government’s policy before an official announcement is made.

A spokesperson said: “Bovine TB is having a devastating effect, with nearly 25,000 cattle in England slaughtered last year because of it.

“It is a complex and sensitive issue and we will announce a comprehensive and balanced TB Eradication Programme for England by the end of July.”

The RSPCA said it is “firmly opposed to plans for any widespread cull” and is urging those who agree to contact their MPs. It said if the Government pushed ahead with the proposals unveiled last autumn to allow licensed farmers to carry out culls on their own land, then up to 70% of badger populations could disappear in parts of the country.