The FUW is calling on the Welsh Government to evaluate and review current cattle control measures following the statement released today (28 March) in which the Minister outlined plans to launch a refreshed delivery plan which would set out the Welsh Government's approach to TB eradication over the next 5 years.

The 5 year plan 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 6 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 spread and encroach upon the Low TB Areas of Wales.

“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 that an essential part of any future policy must include an evaluation of current control measures as a matter of urgency in order to identify those cattle controls which have a high cost to the industry whilst having a minimal impact on disease control and spread.

“The Union believes that the Welsh Government should use the new TB Technical Advisory Group to conduct such evaluation, alongside determining the expected impact on cattle welfare and human health and safety due to the increased gathering and handling required to comply with additional testing proposals.”

In its response to the 2022 Refreshed TB Programme consultation, the FUW reiterated its commitment to working with the Welsh Government to make meaningful progress on bovine TB eradication. The Union was therefore extremely disappointed to note that the new governance arrangements for bovine TB control will include public appointments to both the Programme Board and Technical Advisory Group.

“Given that the TB programme Board is responsible for providing direction and management of the TB Programme, the Union therefore notes with dismay the continued appetite of the Welsh Government for group stakeholder membership which involves a public appointment process.

“In order to facilitate partnership working on both the direction and management of future TB control in Wales, the FUW believes that industry involvement in the Programme Board is essential in order to ensure true partnership working. Whilst we welcome the opportunity to engage in elements of the programme, we believe that greater more holistic involvement is needed to make further strides towards a TB free Wales.”

In its response to the 2022 Refreshed TB Programme consultation, the FUW also previously called for the establishment of a Risk Based Trading working group and the Union therefore welcomes the commitment from the Minister to engage with stakeholders on both TB payments and Informed Purchasing.

“Whilst the FUW does not oppose the principle of risk based trading, we remain concerned about proposals which are either too crude to be useful or too technical to be usable. Discussions surrounding risk based trading must recognise the balance between the need for information, the burden of collating such information and the resultant detrimental effects on some herds.

“However, the FUW continues to fundamentally reject any proposals to move to tabular TB compensation payments on the grounds that it would be unjust and could result in payments that are below the true value of animals.”

The FUW continues to stress that valuing animals in such a simplistic way could never constitute a fair system, since some producers are likely to be underpaid, while others would be overpaid. Moreover, animals that are placed on the market do not necessarily reflect the standards of those that remain on farm, particularly in the case of pedigree herds. Therefore, the provision of compensation pertaining to average market values may not reflect the true value of the animals taken and could act as a disincentive to keeping higher value animals; particularly in areas where TB is prevalent.

“At present, farmers are compensated only for the direct market value of the animal slaughtered. No compensation is offered for the additional costs incurred such as lost revenue, loss of milk production, loss of breeding lines, delays to re-stocking and movement restrictions. These consequential losses suffered by a producer whose animals are compulsorily purchased can be significant and run into tens of thousands of pounds and any further reduction in the compensation paid will undoubtedly render some farms unviable.

“It is essential that future control and eradication plans consider TB science, cattle welfare, farmer wellbeing and farm finances in equal measure in order to deliver a sustainable and pragmatic programme of TB control for Wales,” added Dr Wright.