Bovine TB is caused by the m.bovis bacterium in badgers
Although badgers are often seen as cute and cuddly animals, many harbour a deadly bacterium which can spread to cattle.
The bacterium M.bovis, found in badgers causes Bovine Tuberculosis.
Cases of the chronic disease, once eradicated in the UK, are now rising at an alarming rate.
In an unprecedented show of unity, hundreds of vets have written an open letter to the government expressing their 'despair' at the lack of measures to control the infection.
The letter to the Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett, calls for the strategic culling of badgers, especially in the west country - one of the worst affected regions.
Breakfast had more on this throughout Friday's programme
Our reporter Jon Kay was at the Secret World Badger Sanctuary in Somerset
Today's letter to Margaret Hodge by more than 300 vets, all members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons accuses Defra of a 'wholly inadequate approach' to controlling the disease.
They would like strategic culling of badgers which would prevent the bacterium jumping species, they think it could soon be impossible to see the UK TB free.
The chronic disease causes a slow and painful death in the badgers and the vets want the government to take positive steps.
Notifiable disease
Defra says that Bovine TB is 'infectious and contagious'. It's described as a chronic or slowly progressing inflammatory condition.
Signs of Bovine TB only appear in cattle when the disease has reached the advanced stage.
The risk to humans from the bacterium is low due to the routine TB vaccination programme in young children, pasteurisation of milk and because meat for human consumption is now inspected.
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