More than 3,000 badgers have been culled in Dorset this year – but research shows there are fewer new incidences of TB in cattle.

The cull continued from September 3 to November 1, 2018 in three areas in the county, as well as 27 other areas across Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Devon, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Somerset, Staffordshire and Wiltshire.

And according to Dr Tim Hill, the chief scientist for Natural England, which licenses the culls, the cull is achieving the aim of controlling bovine TB.

The cull has been controversial in Dorset ever since it was announced in 2015. Culling only took place in one area that year, and was later rolled out to two other areas.

Farmers emphasise the need to the badger cull as one of several methods to control the spread of bovine TB, but wildlife campaigners, including Dorset Wildlife Trust, has spoken out over the issue and previously backed a petition calling on the government to end the cull.

In a report, Dr Hill said the three areas where badger culling took place in Dorset ‘applied an appropriate level of targeted effort across their respective areas to maintain the population at reduced level.

A total of 4,337 badgers were culled in Dorset; 325 in area 3, 1,088 in area 8 and 2924 in area 16. Of these, 3,497 were killed by controlled shooting and 840 were killed by cage trapping.

Across the country, a total of 32,601 badgers were culled.

Dr Hill added that operations across all areas were carried out to a high standard of public safety, and that contractors continued to show high levels of discipline and compliance with the Best Practice Guide.

Christine Middlemiss, UK Chief Veterinary Officer, said that in areas one and two – the first areas where culling was initially carried out – the number of new confirmed bovine TB incidents has dropped by around 50 per cent.

Areas one and two are not in Dorset – but experts remain confident that incidences of bovine TB in Dorset will drop when the cull continues next year.

She added: “Given the ongoing reduction in badger population estimates in areas three to 21 since the start of their licences, these areas will see the benefits of reduced disease in cattle over their four-year cull period.”

Releasing a report on the cull, farming minister George Eustice said that the operations were helping to "achieve and maintain long-term reductions in the level of TB in cattle across the South West and Midlands".