Immediate changes will be made to on-farm slaughter in Wales, the government has said, after recommendations from the Bovine TB Technical Advisory Group (TAG) were accepted.
Welsh rural affairs cabinet secretary Huw Irranca Davies accepted the group’s recommendations in full.
Farmers can now choose to delay the removal of a cow or heifer in the last 60 days of pregnancy and animals that have given birth in the previous seven days.
This is subject to biosecurity conditions to protect other cattle in the herd, the Welsh government said.
There will now also be limited flexibility to isolate and delay removal if within a few days of the end of a medicine withdrawal period, on a case-by-case basis.
The main reasons cattle may be slaughtered on-farm for TB control purposes are either because they are not able to travel on welfare grounds, particularly if in late pregnancy, or as a consequence of medicine withdrawal periods.
The government also announced that it, alongside NFU Cymru, the FUW and other relevant representatives from the cattle sector, will set up an industry-led partnership working group.
The group will continue to look at how on-farm slaughter for different reasons, and it’s impacts, can be minimised through co-design and delivery.
The Bovine TB TAG’s inaugural meeting was held on April 17, with the priority to discuss and produce advice regarding the current on-farm slaughter of TB reactors policy.
TB ‘devastation’
Irranca Davies said: “We recognise the devastation a TB breakdown brings to a farming family and business.
“The slaughter of cattle on-farm can be particularly distressing to those who witness it and can have a detrimental impact on farmers’ and farmworkers’ wellbeing and mental health.
“Recognising the impact on farmers, their families and their businesses It is at the forefront of my mind.”
Irranca Davies thanked the TAG for “working at pace” to deliver the recommendations on a “sensitive subject”.
“We can now start to work on exploring where positive changes can be made to the TB programme.
“We cannot eradicate TB alone. Partnership working with farmers and vets is crucial to reaching the shared goal of a TB-free Wales.”
