Badger culling over large tracts of land in the hotspot areas for bovine tuberculosis is likely be given the go-ahead within months.

The possibility of farmers being licensed to shoot badgers is being seen as the most cost-effective way to curb the disease in wildlife and in cattle.

Sir David King, the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, yesterday overturned the core findings of an official study which in June concluded that badger culling would not prevent spread of the disease to cattle. This study was set up ten years ago to establish whether badgers were linked to the spread of disease to cattle.

Sir David recommends that badgers should be destroyed only in the TB hotspot areas such as the South West and the West Midlands to control the incidence of the disease in cattle. He makes clear that he is calling for a reduction in badger numbers and not for the creature’s eradication.

Sir David said last night: “Badgers are a continuing source of infection for cattle and could account for 40 per cent of cattle breakdowns in some areas. Cattle controls remain essential but I consider that, in certain circumstances and under strict conditions, badger removal can reduce the incidence of TB in cattle.” Any licences for shooting by farmers had to be given on the basis of humane killing and conservation considerations, he emphasised.

His intervention coincides with a parliamentary inquiry into the link between badgers and bovine TB. The disease in cattle last year cost the country £80 million in compensation to farmers for the slaughter of infected animals. According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), there were 2,677 new cases of bovine TB up to the end of August, a 22 per cent increase year-on-year.

Meurig Raymond, of the National Farmers’ Union, said that the figures were “damning confirmation of the failure of the Government’s existing strategy for dealing with TB and the vital need for a new approach.”

The Badger Trust, which opposes any badger killing, said that the new review was politicised and had been kept secret. “It does not make any sense and is a one-sided report,” it added.

The report has been with ministers since July - not long after the final report by the Independent Scientific Group (ISG) ruled out killing badgers. Lord Rooker, the Food and Farming Minister, had been due to give evidence to MPs tomorrow about the ISG findings. He has now pulled out so that Sir David can address MPs.

Defra said last night that no decision on a cull was imminent.

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