Bovine TB plan ‘will frustrate Wales’farmers’
FARMERS in Wales will be left frustrated by Welsh Government’s new plan for tackling bovine TB in Wales, according to farming unions.
The FUW is calling on the Welsh Government to evaluate and review current cattle control measures following a refreshed plan to eradcate bovine TB.
And NFU Cymru says the plan does not offer any progress towards a comprehensive strategy that will effectively tackle the disease across all its vectors.
The Rural Affairs Minister outlined plans to launch a refreshed delivery plan which would set out the Welsh Government’s approach to TB eradication over the next five years. It aims to build upon “the comprehensive armoury of measures underway” as part of an overall programme which aims to see a Tb-free Wales by 2041.
Following repeated calls from the FUW, the Welsh Government established national TB eradication targets for each of the TB Areas in Wales in 2017.
Dr Hazel Wright, FUW Deputy Head of Policy, said: “The six-year regional goals set out by the Welsh Government as part of these targets aimed to see Wales become Officially TB Free between 2036 and 2041, with the aim of transferring spatial units from Higher TB Areas into Lower TB Areas, thereby expanding the Low TB Area of Wales. However, since these targets were established, we have seen this disease encroach upon the Low TB Areas.
“Sadly, recent surveillance data shows an emerging area of concern in Anglesey where annual incidence reached an eight-year high in 2021.”
In response, the Welsh Government plans to bring forward legislation to reintroduce Pre-movement Testing for cattle movements within and from the Low TB Area. This is alongside other changes such as extending the requirement for Post-movement Testing in the Intermediate TB Areas and more rigorous contiguous testing regime for herds neighbouring a TB breakdown.
“The FUW is once again concerned that the new delivery plan will continue to focus on increasing the raft of cattle controls conferred upon cattle keepers. The FUW believes an essential part of any future policy must include an evaluation of current control measures as a matter of urgency to identify those cattle controls which have a high cost to the industry whilst having a minimal impact on disease control and spread.”
NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader said: “The announcement of this new five-year delivery plan is light on detail and will do little to inspire confidence in Welsh farmers.
“While the plan points at positive progress and downward trends in some areas, this will be of little consolation to those farmers who have had cattle culled after seeing their herds ravaged by this disease. Despite the industry implementing stringent protocols, we still have hundreds of farm businesses under BTB restrictions and thousands more living with the fear of what their next on-farm TB test will bring.”
Minister for Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths said: “It is extremely distressing for farmers who have an outbreak in their herd. That’s why I am clear we must maintain momentum and build on our already extensive programme of measures.”