Badger Cull Ends: UK Shifts to Vaccinations

The practice of badger culling in England, a measure long employed to manage bovine tuberculosis (TB), has officially been discontinued. Government figures indicate that over the last ten years, this policy led to the culling of more than 270,000 cattle. The final badger culling license, authorized in Cumbria in 2024 and set to expire in 2028, will not be renewed by Natural England, marking a significant shift in policy.

Wildlife advocacy groups, such as the Badger Trust, have welcomed the decision, asserting that culling is not an effective method for disease control. They advocate for addressing the disease's source in cattle. The government has announced plans to transition to badger vaccination programs, although a vaccine for cattle is still in development.

However, farming organizations, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), have raised concerns. They argue that badger culling played a role in transmission control alongside cattle testing and movement restrictions. The NFU president expressed apprehension that ending culling before effective cattle vaccination and testing are available, potentially around 2030, creates significant policy gaps.

Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) stated that its strategy has always prioritized cattle testing and surveillance, with recent data showing a 5% TB positivity rate in tested badgers in 2024. The department acknowledged that bovine TB remains a persistent challenge for farmers and rural communities and indicated that a new control plan is forthcoming. Wildlife trusts are open to collaborating on badger vaccination schemes, but concerns linger about any potentially active culling licenses.