Bovine tuberculosis control programmes in the UK involve regular testing, reactor culling, and badger culling, creating significant welfare impacts for cattle and wildlife.
bTB welfare harms span multiple species: cattle testing positive are killed, often disrupting social groups; cattle in restricted herds face prolonged confinement; and badgers killed in control programmes face a range of welfare outcomes depending on cull method — snaring causes prolonged suffering, shooting is more humane but requires skilled marksmen. The welfare cost of control without an effective vaccine is borne primarily by animals. Cattle vaccination represents the welfare-positive long-term solution.