The bovine tuberculosis debate in the UK involves badger culling with welfare costs to wildlife and unresolved cattle disease burden.
Badger culling involves cage trapping followed by shooting; some badgers are found in traps after extended periods causing stress and injury. Free shooting of disturbed badgers results in wounding at measurable rates. Cattle that test positive for bTB are killed regardless of whether they are infectious, causing deaths of potentially uninfected animals. The welfare costs on both sides are high while the epidemiological benefit remains disputed.