Video: Badger cull delay 'disappointing but responsible' Farmers were expected to start shooting badgers in West Somerset and West Gloucestershire this week to stop the spread of cattle disease bovine tuberculosis (TB). But the cull was officially postponed today until next summer because of problems caused by the Olympics and poor weather, Owen Paterson, the Environment Secretary, announced to the House of Commons. Mr Paterson insisted the Government are still absolutely committed to carrying out the cull. He explained that the cull has already been delayed until after the Olympics and Paralympics and that the weather has also made it difficult for farmers to find the time to bait setts and carry out surveys. President of Veterinary Association Mr Padgett said: "Nobody takes any pleasure at culling badgers, no one at all, but if we know that the policy has a chance to make matters better in certain areas of the country, surely we must try to do that." He stressed that it was responsible to delay it to get the maximium effect from "such a drastic action."