A new study has shown that killing badgers to control tuberculosis (TB) in cows is not a good use of money.

Scientists, farmers, animal campaigners and Government officials have been arguing over the issue for many years. Badgers can catch the disease, and pass it on to cows when they roam through fields. When cattle are infected, they have to be put down. In 2008, this cost the Government over £100million.

This latest study looked at the data from a large badger cull carried out in 1998. Experts concluded that savings made by farmers and Government during a badger cull are less than the costs of killing the badgers. However, the researchers did not suggest any other ways of preventing badgers from passing TB to cows.