THE second year of the badger cull in Gloucestershire has been deemed a ‘failure’ by campaigners after less than half the required number of badgers were killed.

In Gloucestershire just 274 badgers were culled in the second year of the scheme, falling far short of the minimum 615 estimated to be needed to deliver reductions in the disease in livestock, an assessment showed.

"The benefits of reducing disease in cattle over the planned four-year cull may not be realised there," said chief veterinary officer Nigel Gibbens.

He added that culling should continue next year if it can be carried out more effectively, and maintained for at least another year after that.

He also suggested considering culling beyond 2017 because of the "slow start" in Gloucestershire.

The Government has claimed the low numbers in Gloucestershire reflected the "challenges of extensive unlawful protest and intimidation" by anti-cull campaigners.

However Gloucestershire Police made just three arrests for criminal offences during the entire period of this year’s cull.

Jeanne Berry from Gloucestershire Against Badger Shooting, said: “The release of this report just after Parliament has risen for the holidays is yet another cynical move by the government to try and bury bad news about the Gloucestershire Badger Cull.

“The government is trying to blame the failure on unlawful protest yet the police have already confirmed that the protest was overwhelmingly lawful.

"Gloucestershire's badger cull was a failure for the second year running. “Despite increased training for the cull operators they took almost twelve hours to shoot each badger they killed and had to set each trap more than 50 times for each badger they trapped and shot.

“It’s beggars belief that the government should even consider continuing with this failed policy and all the associated costs that come with it.”

In Somerset, where the other pilot cull has been carried out, a sufficient number of badgers were killed this year to lead to expected reductions in TB in cattle, with 341 culled, in a required range of 316 to 785.

In both of the pilot areas, a significant proportion were killed by the more expensive cage trapping and shooting method, rather than "controlled shooting" of free-running badgers.

Ministers and farmers insist culling is necessary to tackle TB, which can be spread from badgers to livestock, with more than 26,000 cattle slaughtered in England last year and multimillion-pound losses.

But opponents say badger-culling is inhumane and ineffective, and alternatives such as vaccination should be pursued.

An independent expert panel concluded that controlled shooting of badgers in the first year of the cull was not effective or humane, and wildlife campaigners have raised concerns that monitoring by the panel did not resume this year.

This year, monitoring by Government agency Natural England showed that no animals they saw being shot took more than five minutes to die, which would classify it as an inhumane death. In both areas, culling met public safety standards.

Following the publication of the results of the two pilot schemes, Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said the Government would continue with culling.

"During the last parliament bovine TB rates in England soared to the highest in Europe. That is why we are taking strong action in pursuing our comprehensive strategy, including tighter cattle movement controls, vaccinations and culling.

"The chief vet's advice is that results of this year's cull in Somerset show they can be effective. That is why I am determined to continue with a comprehensive strategy that includes culling," she said.

A new "biosecurity action plan" has been published, setting out plans to help farmers stop disease spreading on their farms, and officials also announced a new service giving farmers in the cull areas specific veterinary advice on TB management.