The Welsh Assembly Government's High Court judicial review victory over its decision to carry out a limited badger cull in west Wales is not a cause for celebration, according to the Farmers' Union of Wales.
Welcoming the verdict, the union's TB spokesman, vice president Brian Walters, said: "This issue is not just about killing badgers - it's about preventing them and our cattle suffering from this terrible and costly disease.
"It is not a time for celebration - it's time for us to do all we can to stop all further suffering of cattle and wildlife affected by TB.
"Obviously, we are glad that the judge has ratified the considered views of the veterinary establishment and those scientific experts who have advised the Assembly's rural affairs minister.
"Now that the legal system has backed the Assembly's holistic approach to this issue we hope the preparations for the cull in the pilot area, together with more widespread cattle testing and further improvements to on-farm bio-security measures, will be allowed to proceed unhindered.