The Welsh government is consulting on planned changes to its bovine TB control programme.

In 2012 the government dropped plans for a badger cull to tackle bovine TB in the north of the country after a scientific review of the plans. Conservationists opposing the English badger cull have frequently cited Wales’ approach as a successful means of tackling the disease without killing wildlife, but farmers in Wales have continued to call for a cull, especially since a worldwide shortage of TB vaccine put a stop to a badger vaccination programme last year.

On Tuesday, Wales’ Rural Affairs Secretary Lesley Griffiths offered insight into a new ‘regionalised response’ to bTB, which, like the English model, will divide Wales into Low, Intermediate and High TB Areas, with different approaches to tackling the disease used in the different areas. However, the Welsh government is still consulting on exactly what these different approaches will entail.  

There will also be a strengthening of cattle controls, with herds suffering from chronic breakdowns of bTB receiving individual action plans, developed in partnership with farmers, vets and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

The cabinet secretary said Wales could adopt a Northern Ireland-style approach to dealing with badgers in high incidence areas, where badgers would be trapped in cages and those found to be infected with bTB are killed. Griffiths “acknowledged the role played by wildlife in some TB breakdowns” but said it “Is clear that Wales will continue to rule out an England-style cull of badgers with farmers free shooting infected and healthy badgers themselves.”

Speaking in the Senedd, Griffiths said, “Our current programme for TB eradication in Wales comes to an end this year, so it is  time to take stock, reflect on our successes, learn lessons and consider a refreshed approach. Since we introduced the eradication programme in 2012 we have seen a decrease in the number of new cases of bovine TB in cattle herds in Wales, with the latest figures showing the number of new TB incidents is down by 19%.

Noting that the BCG vaccine is still not going to be ready in 2017, she said, “Vaccination still has a role to play in our approach to TB eradication, but it is too soon to think about the future deployment of the vaccine until we know when the supply will be restored,” adding that the government is looking into alternative vaccines.

The government is also consulting on:

• Introducing a mandatory Informed Purchasing Scheme to help farmers make informed decisions about the health of the cattle they wish to purchase;
• Imposing compensation penalties for cattle moved within a multi-site restricted holding;
• Reducing the TB compensation cap to £5,000, which would not affect the majority of farmers but would result in around £300,000 a year savings.

the consultation can be accessed here.

Reacting on Tuesday, the British Veterinary Association’s Welsh Branch President Neil Paton said, “We are particularly heartened to see the focus on risk-based assessment and the targeting of chronically infected herds with individual action plans, to be developed in partnership with farmers, vets and the APHA.

“We also welcome the recognition of the role played by the wildlife reservoir of disease… The Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR) model currently being explored in Northern Ireland had previously been discounted in Wales after modelling suggested it was not a viable option. As vets, we are committed to working with the Welsh Government and Welsh farmers on a comprehensive strategy to control and eradicate this disease.”