The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed an announcement from the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, that the Bovine TB Eradication Programme Board members have now been appointed.
This news completes the revised governance structure as outlined in the Wales TB Eradication Programme Delivery Plan 2023-2028, following the formation of the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group earlier this year.
The FUW welcomes the opportunity to have a seat at the table, alongside a team with a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in this field, to tackle the myriad of issues facing Welsh family farms in eradicating bovine TB.
The establishment of the Programme Board was announced earlier this summer at Anglesey Agricultural Show, with the Cabinet Secretary confirming the members of the Board whilst addressing the fourth annual AberTB conference held on the 18th of September, at Aberystwyth University.
As a Union, the FUW are keen to play its part on the Eradication Programme Board and work closely with the Technical Advisory Group in reviewing important matters relevant to bovine TB eradication.
Eradicating bovine TB is a massively complex and emotive subject, where farmgate frustrations towards ineffective policies fueled the farming sectors’ protests during the spring of 2024. One of the first tasks of the Programme Board will be to consider the analysis of the bovine TB 6-year milestone target review and policy relating to the management of Inconclusive Reactor test results.
Cattle keepers continue to be shackled by this on-going disease with no inroads being made in achieving the Welsh Government's goal of bovine TB freedom by 2041 despite huge sacrifices being imposed on farming businesses.
FUW data analysis of GB Bovine TB statistics clearly evidence very little movement in the percentage of herds in Wales that are ‘Not Officially TB Free’. Over the last six years, there has been a mere 0.09% reduction in the number of ‘Not Officially TB Free’ herds in Wales, setting a dismal trajectory for achieving TB freedom.
As an industry, the status quo cannot continue. This opportunity must be grasped to work collaboratively as an industry to influence and direct change, not only for the present health and wellbeing of our cattle and farmers, but also for future generations.