Jo Smith, Chief Executive of Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, said:  

“We understand the hardship that bovine tuberculosis (bTB) causes in the farming community and the need to find the right mechanisms to control the disease.  

“Bovine TB is primarily a cattle disease. Cattle to cattle transmission is the major cause of infection and spread of bovine TB, and it must be urgently resolved through measures such as improved cattle testing and vaccination, enhanced biosecurity, and controlling livestock movements.   

“Badgers are an iconic and much-loved species, protected by law. It is tragic that more than 230,000 badgers, over half the population, have been killed in pursuit of a failed approach. We call on the UK Government to end the cull as promised in its manifesto, provide support for farmers to improve cattle biosecurity and accelerate the roll out of a cattle vaccine.”