Animal rights activists have published what they claim is a comprehensive list of farmers leading the badger cull complete with addresses, phone numbers and a map.

The Stop the Cull group has suggested its supporters get in touch with the scores of cull organisers it says it has identified to express their opposition, “sabotage” their time by making misleading phone calls or arrange demonstrations outside their farms.

Stop the Cull insists it is not encouraging anyone to harass or threaten organisers but said its move will disrupt those carrying out what it says is a cruel and immoral government policy.

The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) condemned the tactic, claiming it was designed to frighten and intimidate ordinary farming families.

Another group that campaigns against the cull, the Badger Trust, said it understood the anger but expressed concern that the tactic could lead to people being threatened.

Stop the Cull claims its list exposes more than 100 directors of companies set up to carry out the cull, which is due to begin again in the next few weeks.

It says on its website: “We believe that the public should know where the badger killers reside so that anyone can make their feelings known to them.”

The site suggests activists block their numbers from being seen before ringing cull organisers or buy cheap mobile phones and pay-as-you-go sim cards. “It’s a small investment to make, knowing you can tie killers up for hours.”

It claims it is “perfectly legal” to speak to a cull company director once but warns it might amount to harassment if they are called repeatedly. The group says the vast majority of the directors are farmers.

Jay Tiernan, who is a spokesman for the group, said some companies had tried to hide that they were involved in the cull. “We see it as our remit to expose them,” he said.

Tiernan said one of the points of publishing the list was to “sabotage” cull leaders’ time but not intimidate them. “We haven’t encouraged people to leave threatening messages, we’ve done the opposite,” he said. “They may be frightened. That’s their own paranoia. It’s not based on our actions.”

The NFU called the tactic indefensible. A spokesperson said: “Badger culls are being carried out legally and lawfully in specific areas as part of government policy to control and eradicate this terrible disease [bovine TB], which saw more than 33,000 cattle slaughtered in England last year.

“We understand not everyone agrees with the policy. But anyone who calls farmers and their families with the aim of causing them distress is committing a criminal offence. Targeting farming families in this way is indefensible.”

A Defra spokesperson said: “While we recognise and respect individuals’ rights to legitimate, peaceful protest, any criminality or intimidation is completely unacceptable.

“Any such action would be a matter for the police to investigate and take appropriate action.”

Dominic Dyer, CEO of the Badger Trust, said it did not condone the publication of the details.

He said: “We fully understand the level of public anger over the cruel, hugely costly and ineffective badger cull policy, but nothing is to be gained by publishing details of those involved, particularly if this leads to threats or intimidation. We believe in peaceful opposition to the badger cull, acting within the law at all times.

“The Badger Trust is working hard with farmers and landowners to promote badger vaccination as an alternative to badger culling across England and Wales, with increasing success.

“We believe in working with farmers and landowners in a spirit of mutual respect and confidence to find long-term solutions to bovine TB, without the need to kill badgers. This is a far better outcome for farmers, taxpayers and the future of our precious wildlife.”