Labour can stop the badger cull by 2029, but only with a Covid-style focus on testing and vaccinating, according to a new government-commissioned report.
Sir Charles Godfray, who authored the review, warned ministers have only a “small chance” of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by 2038 without increased investment. Badgers are culled because they can spread bTB to cattle, which costs taxpayers and the cattle industry around £150m annually. More than 210,000 badgers have been killed since 2013.
Godfray said badgers do pose a risk of spreading bTB, but stopping the cull is possible with non-lethal measures, including vaccinating badgers, microchipping cattle, and using more accurate blood tests alongside standard skin tests. He noted the Covid-19 pandemic showed how fast large-scale vaccination programs could be rolled out when there is focus and resources.
The report highlights the need for greater government and farmer engagement, warning that lack of investment in Defra, APHA, and local authorities hampers bTB control. Prof James Wood from the University of Cambridge said vaccinating cattle and badgers could significantly reduce transmission, particularly in large herds.
Farming minister Daniel Zeichner welcomed the report, noting record badger vaccinations in 2024 and plans to deploy a new vaccinator field force next year. He confirmed over £40m has been invested in vaccine research, with a comprehensive strategy for eradicating bTB by 2038 due to be published early next year.
