NFU Cymru has reinforced recommendations from the expert group set up by Welsh government to provide advice to the deputy first minister and chief veterinary officer, calling for a ‘step change’ to Wales’ bovine tuberculosis (TB) eradication strategy.
A position paper from the TB Programme Eradication Board in Wales has concluded that a ‘”step change to the urgency and resources devoted to eradication is needed” to meet the target for Wales to be officially TB free by 2041.
The expert group also recommended that future TB policy must encompass a ‘comprehensive strategy based on scientific evidence and analysis’ that will also consider addressing the disease across all its sources.
The release of the position paper on March 11, coincides with a Welsh government written statement on its bovine TB eradication programme.Â
The government’s statement points to a fall in long-term decreases in new TB herd incidents.
It also had updates on the positive impacts of measures implemented by the Welsh government following feedback from the industry.
However, NFU Cymru states that the “overarching evidence and trajectory of data underlines that the current approach to eradicating Wales of TB is not working”.
NFU Cymru president Abi Reader said that it is encouraging to see the statistics show the number of new breakouts has fallen.
However, he added: “We cannot lose sight of the number of farms which are operating under TB restrictions – the 12,493 animals slaughtered because of the disease in the year ending September 2025 and the farming families that continue to suffer because of this disease.”
Reader continued that the policy change to allow delayed slaughter of reactor animals was something the NFU Cymru TB Focus Group lobbied for.
He said NFU Cymru was pleased to see the deputy first minister recognising the benefits that have been seen 12 months on from its implementation.
Reader further said that the change to the treatment of inconclusive reactors is something NFU Cymru called for, viewing it as a “sensible way” of removing risky animals from the marketplace, limiting the spread of disease.
“For the farmers and their families who are dealing with TB on a daily basis, 2041 feels like a long time away and the fact the modelling suggests we will not meet this target, is further evidence that the current approach is not working.”
The organisation agrees with the programme board’s view that the next Welsh government must look to introduce a step change in policy “if it wants to deliver the scale of progress that is required to give Welsh farmers hope that farming without TB is a realistic ambition”.
