Labour’s pledge to end badger culling by 2029 is possible but will require a Covid-style focus on testing and vaccination, according to a new government-commissioned report.
The review, led by Sir Charles Godfray, warns that without significant new investment, ministers have only a “small chance” of meeting the current target of eradicating bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in England by 2038. The disease costs taxpayers and farmers about £150m each year, with more than 210,000 badgers culled since 2013.
Godfray said evidence confirmed that badgers can spread bTB to cattle, but stressed this does not mean culling must continue. Instead, the report recommends scaling up cattle and badger vaccination, microchipping cattle to track movements, and deploying more accurate blood tests alongside standard skin tests.
“We saw during the Covid-19 pandemic how things can move much faster when there is real focus on the disease,” Godfray said. “We want to see the same for this disease.”
The scientists behind the report said investment now would save money long term. Farming minister Daniel Zeichner welcomed the findings, confirming record badger vaccinations in 2024 and plans to deploy a new vaccinator field force and roll out cattle vaccines, with a full strategy to be published next year.
