Link Manager: Ellie Ward, Principal Policy Officer
The Government has signalled that it intends to end the badger cull, and is developing a refreshed national strategy for managing bovine TB. The new national strategy must take a holistic approach to managing bTB, and must be underpinned with rigorous scientific evidence, if it is to deliver a sustainable, successful and permanent transition away from culling.
In July 2025, the Group wrote collectively to Minister Zeichner regarding the new national bTB strategy, to call for a new 'cattle first' approach to managing this terrible disease. This should include improvements to cattle testing, mandatory biosecurity measures (including strictly enforced risk-based trading), and faster rollout of cattle vaccination. Where badger vaccination is used, this should be supplementary to strong cattle measures.
In February 2025, the Group submitted evidence to the Godfray Panel 2025. This reconvening of the Godfray Panel is an important opportunity to address gaps that were present in the last review and to examine crucial new evidence, both relating to the (in)efficacy of badger culling and the success of cattle measures. We urge the Panel to also consider welfare and ethical expertise.
The group has also shared key policy recommendations with the panel, including for improved cattle testing and biosecurity, a safe and effective bTB vaccine for cattle, and a permanent end to the badger cull in 2025.
For further information, contact Ellie Ward, Link’s Principal Policy Officer.
Last updated: 29 April 2026
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