New Bovine TB review fails to address critical issues
Badger Trust and Born Free Foundation Issue a Joint Statement on the Godfray Review – 4 September 2025
Today’s publication of the Bovine TB strategy review, led by Professor Sir Charles Godfray, offers positive suggestions, including increased cattle testing and improved gamma interferon tests. However, we are disappointed by its lack of ambition.
The review should have addressed critical issues, such as controlling bovine TB in cattle herds. Although the panel acknowledges that wildlife overemphasis is harmful, it still asserts that badgers contribute to disease persistence. This distracts from the fact that cattle to cattle transmission is the overwhelming cause of bovine TB outbreaks.
We found no strong scientific evidence linking badgers to the spread of bovine TB.
The ongoing mass culling of badgers is unjustifiable, resulting in unnecessary cruelty and financial costs to taxpayers. The review should have called for an end to this practice, which distracts from addressing the real causes of bovine TB in cattle.
Godfray questions whether becoming bTB Free by 2038 is achievable, emphasising the need to use improved cattle testing methods, introduce the BCG vaccine for cattle, and establish a comprehensive risk-based trading policy.
It’s time to shift the focus away from badgers and address the real issue: bovine TB in cattle.
Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy, Born Free Foundation
Dominic Dyer, Born Free Foundation
Rosie Wood, Chair Badger Trust
Nigel Palmer, Chief Executive, Badger Trust