Additional TB testing and increased support for Welsh farmers announced

Last year there was a 75% increase in TB incidents on the previous 12 months in the Intermediate TB Area North
Last year there was a 75% increase in TB incidents on the previous 12 months in the Intermediate TB Area North

Additional contiguous testing and increased veterinary support for farmers will be implemented in herds in North Wales following a local spike in TB incidents.

The measures are part of the regionalised TB Eradication Programme, which allows Welsh Government to introduce measures at a local level in response to localised increases in the disease.

Additional testing in herds with increased risk of becoming infected will result in a doubling of the effort to identify the disease in the area, adding a further two contiguous tests at six months intervals into the regime.

These visits will be delivered by the farmer’s own local practice via specially trained vets and will look at the local disease picture, biosecurity and the farms cattle trading policy and informed purchasing, mirroring the approach used in TB breakdown Cymorth TB visits.

The programme includes targets that would see Wales become Officially TB free between 2036 and 2041, and the strategy has already contributed to a significant reduction in incidence in recent years.

Announcing the changes, the Wales' Cabinet Secretary, Lesley Griffiths said: “The introduction of TB Areas as part of our refreshed TB Eradication Programme, allows us to introduce measures quickly, flexibly and at a local level to drive down the disease and react to any localised increases in disease.

“It is clear from the unprecedented increase in new incidents over the last year in the Intermediate TB Area North that this is not a short term trend and the rate will not reduce unaided.

She added: “That is why I am today announcing that we will redouble our efforts and introduce additional contiguous testing in the Area. On top of this we will support farmers during this difficult time by providing ‘keep it out’ visits for herds which have tested negative.”

Last year there was a 75% increase in TB incidents on the previous 12 months in the Intermediate TB Area North.