England's New Bovine TB Eradication Plan: Vaccination, Badger Vaccination, and End of Culls

The English government will launch a nationwide cattle vaccination programme against bovine TB in 2030, paired with a DIVA test that distinguishes vaccinated from infected animals. The final badger-cull licences will end by 2029, and targeted badger vaccination will expand, aiming for eradication by 2038.

The Guardian

Bovine TB forces the slaughter of over 20,000 cattle annually, costing £100 million and imposing a mental-health burden on farmers. Since 2013, about 250,000 badgers have been culled at a cost of £60 million, while cattle-to-cattle spread is fifteen-fold higher than wildlife transmission.

The Guardian

The plan was drafted by the Bovine TB Partnership, a coalition of 100 farmers, vets, scientists and government. Its chair, farmer John Cross, leads farmer voice. Academics include Prof James Wood (Cambridge) and Prof Rosie Woodroffe (Institute of Zoology). Dr Ele Brown and NFU deputy president Paul Tompkins have endorsed the strategy.

The Guardian

Over 20,000 cattle are destroyed each year (£100 m) and more than 250,000 badgers have been culled (£60 m). Cattle-to-cattle transmission is about fifteen-fold higher than wildlife transmission. Ethiopian trials showed 89 % vaccine efficacy. Target dates: 2029 (cull end), 2030 (vaccination and DIVA test), 2038 (eradication).

The Guardian

DEFRA’s Dr Ele Brown called the plan ambitious but achievable. John Cross stressed the effort must focus on the pathogen, not politics. Prof James Wood highlighted cattle-to-cattle spread dominates TB transmission. Prof Rosie Woodroffe noted badgers are not the primary driver but vaccination remains relevant. Paul Tompkins said the NFU backs the strategy because TB continues to devastate farming families.

The Guardian

The badger-cull’s effectiveness is contested; a 2025 review found an effect but could not isolate its size, noting biosecurity improvements. EU rules also block cattle vaccination pending DIVA test approval.

The Guardian

Sources disagree on how much the cull contributed to TB declines, and the timeline for DIVA test acceptance remains uncertain.

The Guardian

• “It is ambitious but achievable.” — Dr Ele Brown, deputy chief veterinary officer, DEFRA

The Guardian

• “Our studies have demonstrated over 15-fold more transmission occurs between cattle than comes from wildlife – that’s why the focus has to be on cattle.” — Prof James Wood, University of Cambridge

The Guardian

• “Badgers are not driving this epidemic. They’re not a reservoir of disease but they’re also not irrelevant to TB eradication. So the strategy proposes badger vaccination in priority areas.” — Prof Rosie Woodroffe, Institute of Zoology

The Guardian

• “BTB continues to devastate farming families and their herds. That’s why this strategy is so important and we back its goal of building on the progress achieved so far. We now need some real urgency behind its delivery.” — Paul Tompkins, deputy president, National Farmers’ Union

The Guardian

The government will submit the vaccine licence to the EU and World Organisation for Animal Health, roll out the DIVA test in 2030, publish monthly herd TB risk scores, and review the strategy in 2025, aiming for a TB-free England by 2038.

The Guardian