Labour’s pledge to end badger culling by 2029 is achievable, but only with a major focus on testing and vaccination, according to a government-commissioned report.
The review, led by Sir Charles Godfray, warns that without increased investment, ministers have only a “small chance” of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by 2038. The disease costs taxpayers and the cattle industry around £150m annually, with more than 210,000 badgers culled since 2013.
Godfray confirmed that badgers can spread bTB to cattle but said culling is not the only option. The report recommends non-lethal measures, including vaccinating badgers, microchipping cattle to track movements, and using more accurate blood tests alongside standard skin tests.
“There is a threat from badgers, and if we are going to move away from a cull we need to move towards non-lethal control,” Godfray said. “Vaccination is a realistic way to stop bovine TB, but considerable work will have to be done to scale it up so it becomes viable.”
The scientists stressed that investment now would save money in the long term. Prof James Wood of the University of Cambridge added that vaccinating cattle and badgers could significantly reduce transmission, especially in large herds.
Farming minister Daniel Zeichner welcomed the report, highlighting a record year for badger vaccination in 2024 and plans to deploy a new vaccinator field force, develop a cattle vaccine, and publish a comprehensive strategy next year to eradicate bTB by 2038.
