Full Breakdown
End of England’s 12-Year Badger Culling Programme
6/6/2026, 5:13:26 AM
Core Event: Government Halts the Cull
After 12 years of licensed badger culling (2013-2025) that resulted in 247,000 animals being shot, the newly elected government ordered an immediate stop to the programme. The decision was taken amid mounting scientific, economic and public-policy debate over the operation’s role in controlling bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle.
Background & Context
The cull was introduced to break the transmission cycle of Mycobacterium bovis, the bacterium that causes bTB, which costs the UK livestock sector hundreds of millions of pounds annually. Parallel measures—enhanced cattle testing, movement controls and biosecurity fences—were rolled out at the same time. Proponents argued that removing a wildlife reservoir would accelerate eradication, while opponents warned that badgers account for only a minority of infections.
Key Figures & Groups
- Angela Eagle, Minister for Food and Rural Affairs (UK government)
- James Stranks, Ecologist, Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA)
- Gabby Emery, Somerset beef farmer, NFU livestock board member
- Jenny Pike, Somerset chair, Badger Trust
- Keith Cutler, Veterinary surgeon, Dorset (TB prevention adviser)
- Badger Trust, wildlife-conservation NGO
Data & Statistics
- 247,000 badgers culled across England, with the highest density in Somerset and Gloucestershire.
- 270,000 cattle slaughtered for bTB over the same decade.
- Cattle-to-slaughter numbers fell by roughly one-third since 2014, coinciding with the cull and other interventions.
- APHA research indicates that the vast majority of bTB transmission occurs cattle-to-cattle, not badger-to-cattle.
Official Statements & Responses
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs said it is “strengthening disease control, cattle testing and surveillance” while a senior spokesperson confirmed that a new bTB strategy will be published within months. The Badger Trust announced it will expand vaccination programmes for badgers, aligning with the government’s shift toward non-lethal control. Ministers acknowledged that the cull “made some difference” but emphasized that eradication will now rely on diagnostics, biosecurity and vaccine development.
Criticism & Opposition
The Badger Trust argues the cull was a “travesty” that diverted resources from more effective measures. Veterinary expert Keith Cutler warned that once bTB enters a herd, it can circulate undetected for years, suggesting that focusing on wildlife is misplaced. Jenny Pike highlighted the dual impact on animal welfare and farmer livelihoods, calling the halted cull “wasted time”.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Government scientists attribute the decline in cattle infections to a combination of culling, testing and biosecurity, whereas independent ecologists contend that the cull’s contribution is unquantifiable. No consensus exists on the proportion of cases prevented by badger removal, and data on long-term outcomes of vaccination programmes remain incomplete.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What it hasn't done is get TB out of our herds,” — Angela Eagle, Minister for Food and Rural Affairs
- “Badgers can carry the disease, they can spread it to cows. Cows also spread to badgers,” — James Stranks, Ecologist, APHA
- “Emotionally, the strain that this puts on many farming businesses is absolutely monumental.” — Gabby Emery, Somerset beef farmer, NFU board member
- “We don't want to see badgers slaughtered, we don't want to see farmers losing their livelihoods," said Somerset chair Jenny Pike.” — Jenny Pike, Somerset chair, Badger Trust
- “Once TB is in the herd then it can circulate around within the cattle, often undisclosed for years," he said.” — Keith Cutler, Dorset veterinarian
What’s Next
The forthcoming bTB strategy will prioritize accelerated vaccine research for both cattle and badgers, expand targeted testing, and reinforce farm-level biosecurity. A draft of the strategy is expected within the next quarter, with implementation plans to follow. Stakeholders anticipate that the shift from lethal control to vaccination and surveillance will reshape the economics of livestock farming in the South-West and set a precedent for disease management across the UK.
