bovine

Prof Glossop paid tribute to Sir Brian's work, but added: "Did that case study prove that badgers have no role to play in the bovine TB equation? No, I don’t agree with that conclusion."

In 2011, the UK government decided to cull badgers in TB hotspots in England because - after re-interpreting the Krebs evidence - it concluded badgers could be contributing to the spread of bovine TB.

"We recognise the devastating impact bovine TB has on the farming community which is why we are committed to beating this insidious disease," said the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

"This government will roll out a TB eradication package including vaccination, herd management and biosecurity measures to achieve our objective of getting to bovine TB free status and end the badger cull."

The Welsh government said it was "very aware of the distressing impact of bovine TB on the health and well-being of our farmers and their families and we are absolutely determined to eradicate this devastating disease".