The bovine tuberculosis (bTB) debate in the UK involves difficult trade-offs between cattle farmer welfare, badger welfare and public health. Badgers are a protected species but also a wildlife reservoir of bTB.
Culled badgers frequently do not die quickly, causing significant suffering. The Godfray Review (2018) found the cull had uncertain effectiveness and recommended transitioning to vaccination. Trap-and-release vaccination is less stressful for badgers when conducted by skilled operators and avoids lethal welfare impacts.