5 days ago
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
NFU Cymru urges faster action on bovine TB strategy
Union says policy progress welcome, but pace must accelerate to end disease's toll on Welsh farms
NFU CYMRU has called for a significant acceleration in the Welsh Government's bovine TB eradication efforts, warning that while recent policy improvements are welcome, they fall short of delivering the scale of change needed to tackle the disease effectively.
The comments come following a statement by Welsh Government updating Senedd Members on its TB Eradication Programme.
The farming union acknowledged that positive steps have been made—particularly in partnership working and procedural changes influenced by union proposals—but warned that hundreds of Welsh herds and family-run farms continue to face devastation from the disease.
Roger Lewis, Chairman of the NFU Cymru Bovine TB Focus Group, said: 'Welsh Government's new bTB governance structures are now fully operational, and NFU Cymru welcomes the opportunity to sit around the table with other stakeholders from the Welsh cattle industry, Welsh Government and APHA to discuss TB policy.
'We appreciate that these new structures need time to bed in, but the scale and pace of progress cannot be overstated. For those living with bovine TB every day, progress towards eradication often feels painfully slow or even non-existent. That's why we continue to push for a comprehensive strategy that addresses the disease wherever it exists.'
Over 13,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2024 after testing positive as TB reactors—the highest number ever recorded in a single year. While NFU Cymru acknowledges that this figure partly reflects more sensitive testing, including wider use of gamma interferon tests, the human impact must not be ignored.
'Behind each number is a farming family dealing with emotional and financial hardship,' said Mr Lewis. 'We welcome the Deputy First Minister's recognition of the severe toll this disease takes on Welsh farmers. Whether TB is already on a farm or looming nearby, the scars run deep across our industry.'
The union also highlighted policy shifts achieved through its ongoing engagement with government. Among them is a change in rules around on-farm slaughter of TB reactors, particularly heavily pregnant animals, which many members had found particularly traumatic. Since the policy change, 111 herds have opted to delay on-farm slaughter.
Another key development is the government's revised approach to managing 'resolved' Inconclusive Reactor (IR) animals. NFU Cymru had called for tighter controls on such cattle, citing scientific evidence of their increased risk of becoming reactors in future.
'We believe it is sensible to remove this risk from the marketplace to protect other herds,' said Mr Lewis. 'However, we've also made the case that in some situations—such as tenancy changes—farmers may need to move these animals. We now await detailed guidance from Welsh Government on how the new policy will operate in practice.'
He added that NFU Cymru stands ready to support clear communication of the changes and their scientific basis to the wider industry.
