BADGER culls could be a thing of the past with the animals given jabs instead of being shot.

East Sussex has been chosen to pilot a £2.27 million vaccination scheme in a bid to control the spread of bovine tuberculosis (BTB).

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is trying to accelerate efforts to vaccinate the badgers as a more humane alternative to culls.

However, the National Farmers Union (NFU) does not support this decision and believes it will jeopardise the ability to control the highly infectious disease, which can affect dairy cattle.

The Argus: Bagders have been culled since 2013Bagders have been culled since 2013

NFU deputy president Stuart Roberts said: “Many farming families have struggled with BTB for a very long time. In recent years, they have started to see some light at the end of a very dark tunnel, but today’s announcement will drive a coach and horses through this positive hope.

“It is incredibly disappointing and frustrating that the government is pressing ahead with its proposals that abandon badger culling, a hugely successful element of the strategy.

“The government should be making decisions based on the science and evidence, which clearly shows that badger culling is effective in controlling the spread of this disease.”

In 2013, licences were issued that allowed farmers to shoot badgers in the hope this would stop outbreaks of BTB which led to cattle being put down.

Over the last year, farmers have had to slaughter at least 27,000 cattle in England, according to the government.

Culling licences will stop being issued in 2022, the government has confirmed, but until then licences will be issued in ten operation areas around the country.

The Argus: As much as 60 per cent of the badger population could be killed As much as 60 per cent of the badger population could be killed

Dawn Varley, acting chief executive of the Badger Trust, said: “We’re sceptical of the investment in badger vaccinations, in reality, this is a five-year pilot in one area only.

“That just delays a more extensive roll-out.”

The eventual end in licensing means culling will have to stop in 2026, however, it is predicted that a further 130,000 badgers could be killed in that time - adding to the 140,000 that already have been.

If that number of badgers are killed, England could lose up to 60 per cent of the population of the animal from the wild.

Sussex Wildlife Trust has been contacted for comment.