The study also said there was a possibility that bovine TB could transmitted from badgers to cattle if the same food was eaten.

Farmers are convinced of the link between TB-infected badgers and outbreaks in cattle, which has been present in British herds for several years, but the study did not show definite evidence of badger-to-cattle transmission of the disease.

UK animal health minister Elliot Morley said that the relative risk presented to cattle by contact with TB infected badgers was unknown, but DEFRA would fund a project to probe the subject further.

"DEFRA has issued farmers with guidance on good husbandry practices to help minimise the spread of TB. It makes sense to minimise direct contact between badgers and cattle," he said.

"Securing farm buildings adequately, especially feed stores and cattle housing, to prevent wildlife entering is a simple and effective measure that can be applied quickly at little extra cost," he added.

Animal rights umbrella group, the National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG) condemned the Royal Society research as biased and said it could not be representative as researchers only studied badger behaviour on two farms.

"This weak and highly prejudicial piece of research manages to devote a huge amount of tax payers' money to giving the impression that badgers are the primary source of bovine TB transmission to cattle," NFBG head Dr Elaine King said.

"The most likely conclusion that farming unions will draw is that badgers should be culled. Yet the research pays scant attention to the real solution if indeed badgers are to blame: stop badgers eating cattle feed," she added.

Britain's National Farmers' Union said the Royal Society study highlighted the need for quick results from the government's controversial trial programme of culling badgers to see if it prevents the spread of bovine TB.

Conservationists have railed against the cull, which will kill around 12,000 of Britain's 300,000 badger population over five years, maintaining that cattle may spread bovine TB between themselves.

"We continue to urge farmers to do everything they can to reduce the risk of badgers coming into contact with cattle, either directly or indirectly," said NFU animal health and welfare vice chairman Jan Rowe.

"It can, however, only be part of the campaign to improve the health of Britain's badger population and to stop the increasing number of TB infections we are seeing in our cattle."

Data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) showed there were 726 new herd incidences of TB between January 1 and March 31, of which 396 have been confirmed, 192 are unconfirmed and 138 are still unclassified.