Badger TB vaccinations at record high
The government reports that badger cullimg has decreased by 12 per cent compared to 2023.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has reported a record high in badger vaccination against tuberculosis (TB).
Vaccinations increased by 24 per cent across the country, with a total of 4,110 badgers now vaccinated against TB. This is an increase of over 1,000 badgers since 2023.
The progress is the result of a major drive to increase badger vaccinations and end badger culling. The current government has pledged to end badger culling by the end of Parliament.
As the number of vaccinations increase, the government reports that badger culling has decreased by 12 per cent compared to 2023. This is less than half the number of badgers culled at the peak of the policy.
The government is set to introduce additional projects to support farmers to carry out badger vaccinations themselves. Launching later in 2025, the new programme is the result of collaboration with the National Farmers Union (NFU) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).
It will be advancing its plans further with the launch of its Badger Vaccinator Field Force next year, which is expected to increase the pace of badger vaccination.
Badger culling is often used to prevent the spread of bovine tuberculosis through badgers. Over 230,000 badgers have been killed to control the disease.
The government seeks to prevent the need for badger culling through continued rollout of the badger vaccine, as well trialling a cattle vaccine.
Cattle vaccination field trials are continuing this year. The next phase of field trials will launch this summer, with cattle keepers invited to express their interest.
Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer, said: “Bovine tuberculosis is one of the most difficult and prolonged animal disease challenges we face, causing devastation for farming communities.
“The disease is on a very positive downward trajectory following years of hard work, as vaccinations continues to increase and we remain committed to take a data-led and scientific approach as we transition to fully adopting non-lethal control methods for managing this insidious disease.”
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