THE government’s failure to test badgers killed in its controversial tuberculosis cull sparked Labour criticism yesterday.

Shadow environment minister David Drew said post-mortem examinations should be carried out to ensure “there is some sense in what the government is trying to do.”

Agriculture Minister George Eustice pointed to previous research, claiming a prevalence of the disease in 30 per cent of badgers in “high-risk” areas. He said that “a small sample” of dead badgers would be tested this year.