Wildlife

Badger Welfare: Bovine TB Policy and Ethical Considerations

Overview of badger welfare in the context of bovine tuberculosis control policy in the UK.

Key Facts

Badger culling has been used in England as a bTB control measure since 2013
Scientific debate continues about the effectiveness of culling versus vaccination
Badger vaccination programmes are operational in several areas
Badger welfare in culling operations has been subject to significant scrutiny
A bTB vaccine for cattle is under development that could change the policy landscape

Welfare Considerations

Badger welfare has been a deeply contested issue in the UK bovine TB policy debate for over a decade. Culling causes significant welfare costs and kills thousands of badgers annually. Evidence for culling effectiveness is disputed, with vaccination offering a welfare-compatible alternative. Development of a cattle vaccine offers the prospect of resolving this conflict without badger culling. The welfare case for vaccination over culling is strong.

What You Can Do

Support Badger Trust and organisations advocating for vaccination over culling
Write to MPs and agricultural ministers advocating for bTB policy reform
Donate to badger vaccination programmes as evidence-based welfare interventions