It was officially revealed last month that the culls would be extended to Dorset this year.

Extension to Dorset provokes controversy
 
Badger culling is now underway in Dorset, Gloucestershire and Somerset, Defra has announced.

Late last month, it was revealed that the culls would be extended to Dorset this year, as part of the government's plan to eradicate bovine TB.

A four-year culling licence issued to a company in Dorset stipulates that 615-835 badgers must be removed from the area during the six-week cull period.

The news comes just days after senior scientists urged the government to stop the culls as a matter of urgency.

Among their number is Professor Ranald Munro, who was chairman of the independent expert panel that monitored the first year of the culls, finding them to fail on humaneness and efficacy.

In a letter published by The Guardian, scientists raised concerns about the cost and effectiveness of culling, highlighting other factors that may be more important in controlling TB, such as strengthening cattle movement controls, heightening on-farm biosecurity, the limitations of the tuberculin test and cattle and badger vaccination.

In addition, the Save Me Trust - founded by Queen guitarist Brian May - has warned the legality of the culls will be challenged by a judicial review in the High Court.

However, the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA) -  a specialist division of the BVA - has welcomed the extension of the culls, as well as other control measures recently announced by Defra.

In a statement, BCVA said: "We remain confident that the strategy will make a meaningful contribution to the control of TB in cattle in those areas and look forward to further areas becoming involved in due course."

Meanwhile, the BVA withdrew its support for the culls back in April this year, saying it could no longer support the use of controlled shooting, after pilot culls failed to demonstrate it could be done humanely and effectively.

Other new strategies announced by Defra last month include a consultation on whether to introduce compulsory testing for all cattle entering low-risk areas, calls for views in controlling TB in non-bovine animals such as pigs, goats and deer and a consultation on changes to the criteria for badger control licences - such as reducing the minimum area for a licence.

Farming minister George Eustice said: "England has the highest incidence of TB in Europe and that is why we are taking strong action to deliver our 25-year strategy to eradicate the disease and protect the future of our dairy and beef industries…

"Our approach of dealing with the disease in cattle and wildlife has worked overseas and is supported by leading vets."