Badger Welfare in Disease Management: Culling vs Vaccination

The badger cull in England to control bovine tuberculosis has been a major animal welfare controversy, with vaccination programmes offering a more humane alternative.

Key Facts

England has culled over 230,000 badgers since 2013 as part of bTB control policy
Scientific evidence on the effectiveness of culling is contested with some studies showing limited impact on bTB rates
Badger vaccination using BCG has been shown to reduce bTB in badgers and is being scaled up in some areas
Culling causes significant badger suffering through shooting injuries and perturbation of social groups
The badger cull has faced sustained opposition from wildlife and veterinary organisations including the BVA
A combination of badger vaccination and cattle testing and movement controls is advocated by most veterinary scientists

Welfare Considerations

The badger cull subjects a protected species to organised killing with contested scientific justification. Culling disrupts badger social groups causing perturbation effects that may increase bTB spread. Vaccination offers a more humane alternative that addresses disease without causing wildlife suffering. Advocates should support the expansion of badger vaccination and oppose the extension of culling as a primary bTB control strategy.

What You Can Do

Support the Badger Trust and Wildlife Trusts in campaigns against badger culling
Advocate for government investment in badger vaccination programmes as the primary bTB control strategy
Engage with your MP or agricultural representatives about badger cull evidence
Follow research on bTB vaccination effectiveness and share it with farming communities
Support a holistic bTB control strategy including cattle testing, movement controls, and vaccination