The best contribution so far IMO (for what little that is worth!) is Grab's, but thank you also to Divis for not using this as another stick to beat the British with.

Wikipedia has something on the subject of busbys. As with many posters, I am in favour of necessary culls. From the Wiki, it would appear the Belgian Army does use synthetic fur, but that it is problematical.

For myself, I would be happier if I knew the British Army was using "needfully culled" skins. This notion of an "international auction" leaves me wondering where the skins for said auction come from. But if they were "needful", it proves added value to the death of the animal in queston.

Killing purely for pleasure is utterly abhorrent to me, & I question the state of mind of anyone who does so (whilst also recognising that taking pleasure in the "stalk" is by no means the same thing). However, if an animal must die, I would rather that as much benefit is made of that sacrifice as possible. Some may question whether a busby is "benefit", but to simply leave the carcass to rot seems to me to be disrepectful both to the life AND the death of any animal.

I think that if an animal must die, we should make the best & as much as possible of that death. So use its skin, eat it (bear meat used to be considered perfectly good game), use the bones for glue, & everything else that you can.