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02/03/2011

Pressure on farms to increase in size could mean the end of family farming. Anna Hill asks whether a government cull of ruddy ducks in the UK is money well spent.

Pressure on farms to increase in size could mean the end of family farming. 90% of UK farms are currently family run businesses, handed down through the generations. But there are warnings that the growing trend to industrial, large scale farms is putting them increasingly under pressure. Sarah Swadling's been to meet David Cotton who is managing to make a successful business on the family beef and dairy farm in Somerset.

Only 120 ruddy ducks remain in the UK after a government cull to reduce their numbers. The cull is to stop them cross breeding with the white headed duck, and has cost 拢3.3 million of public money. Anna Hill debates whether this is money well spent with Boris Barov, the European Conservation Manager of Birdlife International and Kate Fowler from Animal Aid.

Presented by Anna Hill and produced by Emma Weatherill.

15 minutes

Last on

Wed 2 Mar 2011 05:45

Broadcast

  • Wed 2 Mar 2011 05:45

Podcast