MS, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change &
Rural Affairs: I fully recognise the impacts a TB breakdown
brings to farmers, their families and businesses and have heard
about these issues from individual affected farmers, FUW, NFU
Cymru and others.
The slaughter of cattle on-farm can be particularly distressing
to those who witness it and can have a detrimental impact on
wellbeing and mental health. 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.
On the 15 April I announced the membership of the bovine TB
Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The TAG's inaugural meeting was
held on 17 April, their first priority being to discuss and
produce advice regarding on-farm slaughter.
I have received their advice, which I have accepted in full. We
will now be making immediate changes to the on-farm slaughter
policy, with the aim of reducing the numbers of cattle
slaughtered on-farm in Wales.
Farmers will be able to 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 7 days, subject to biosecurity
conditions to protect other cattle in the herd. Equally, for
there to be a 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.
I have also asked officials to work with NFU Cymru, FUW and other
relevant representatives from the cattle sector to set up an
industry-led partnership working group which will continue to
look at how on-farm slaughter for different reasons, and it's
impacts, can be minimised through co-design and delivery. I
remain clear Government cannot eradicate TB alone. Partnership
working with our farmers and vets is crucial to reach our shared
goal of a TB-free Wales.
