Welsh farmers demand overhaul of bovine TB controls

Welsh farmers are demanding changes to the bovine TB programme, including dedicated case vets, action on infected wildlife and more ways to trade cattle from restricted herds.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has published 'A Mandate for Bovine TB Eradication in Wales', setting out priorities identified through consultation with its members.

The document was launched to coincide with the Pembrokeshire County Show and Denbigh & Flint Show. The union said farmers in different parts of Wales face varying challenges and wants those regional differences reflected in how bovine TB is tackled.

The mandate builds on demands contained in the FUW’s 2026 Senedd election manifesto and calls for the limitations of the current eradication programme to be investigated.

The union wants the reasons for limited progress to be identified and acted upon, alongside the development of a scientifically supported, sustainable and more holistic approach to eradication.

It is also calling for greater use of genomic sequencing evidence where Mycobacterium bovis is detected in wildlife. The FUW said sufficient funding must be available to provide fair compensation for compulsorily removed cattle and support delivery of the programme.

One of the most immediate concerns raised by members is the level of support available when a herd goes into a TB breakdown.

The union wants every affected farmer in Wales to be allocated a case vet, while private vets should also be more closely involved in communication and action during a breakdown.

The FUW believes closer collaboration between farmers, private vets and case vets could help reduce confusion and make complex restrictions easier to manage.

It is also calling for automated correspondence to be paused where necessary during complicated breakdowns to prevent farmers receiving conflicting messages.

A digital communication platform with access for agents should also be explored. The union wants stronger Welsh-language provision and policy information on the TBHub, alongside an urgent review of the CymorthTB service.

Wildlife is another major part of the proposals.

The FUW wants continued support for the Badger Found Dead Scheme and says evidence already gathered through the programme should be used to inform interventions where disease is identified in wildlife populations.

It is also calling for monitoring to be extended to other species, including deer. Any wildlife intervention should be evidence-based, financially deliverable and used to improve understanding and share best practice, the union said.

The FUW also wants such measures to include a pre-set exit strategy.

The economic impact of movement restrictions is another major concern, with the union saying cattle remaining on farms affected by TB breakdowns can lose significant value because of restrictions on where they can be sold or moved.

It argues that widening trading options could reduce overstocking pressures while helping protect the financial viability of affected family farms.

Among its proposals is exploring whether Orange Markets could operate in the Intermediate TB Area North. The FUW also wants TB Isolation Units to be permitted there and Approved Finishing Units to be allowed in both Intermediate TB Areas of Wales.

Applications for specialised bovine TB units should also be streamlined, it said.

The mandate also raises concerns about differences in the way inconclusive reactor results are interpreted in England and Wales.

Under the current rules, the FUW says some cattle classed as inconclusive reactors in Wales could be treated as clear under the English interpretation. The union says this is creating resentment and concerns over fairness, particularly among farmers operating close to the border.

It wants the two systems brought into closer alignment to remove what it sees as an inconsistency affecting cross-border businesses.

Overall, the FUW is calling for a bovine TB strategy combining stronger veterinary support, action where disease is identified in wildlife, more flexible cattle trading options and greater consistency between England and Wales.