Labour’s pledge to stop shooting badgers by 2029 is achievable, but only if the government invests heavily in testing and vaccination programmes, according to a new review of bovine tuberculosis (bTB).
The report, led by Sir Charles Godfray, says England has only a “small chance” of eradicating bTB by the 2038 target without a major increase in urgency and funding. More than 210,000 badgers have been killed since culling began in 2013, with the disease costing taxpayers about £150m a year.
Godfray said evidence shows badgers can spread bTB to cattle, but stressed this does not mean culling is the only option. Vaccination, alongside better cattle testing and tracking, offers a realistic non-lethal alternative, he argued. “We saw during the Covid-19 pandemic how things can move so much faster when there is real focus on the disease. We want to see the same for this disease,” he said.
The report also called for improved testing methods, including blood tests that outperform the current skin test, and suggested microchipping cattle to better monitor movements.
Farming minister Daniel Zeichner welcomed the review, noting record levels of badger vaccination in 2024 and £40m invested in cattle vaccine research. A new eradication strategy will be published early next year.
