Bovine TB

Defra has rejected calls to apologise after three researchers hit out at Government criticism of a paper which claimed badger culls have had no effect in reducing incidence of TB in cattle.

A simplified licence enabling English farmers and landowners to vaccinate badgers has been introduced to help in the fight against bovine tuberculosis, the Government has announced.

Bovine tuberculosis remains one of the ‘main threats’ to Welsh farming, according to a report published by a Senedd committee.

Tougher bovine tuberculosis (bTB) controls including diagnostic testing, cattle movements and isolation requirements have been proposed by the Scottish Government in a new consultation.

A new lateral flow test similar to those used to identify Covid, could offer farmers another biosecurity tool against bovine TB. 

A fourth-generation Welsh dairy farmer who has lost his entire herd to bovine tuberculosis is calling on farmers to come together to demand a change in Government policy.

The Labour Party’s new Shadow Defra Secretary, Jim McMahon, has claimed culls are only effective ‘in the sense that you have a dead badger at the end of it’.  

The Labour Partys new Shadow Defra Secretary, Jim McMahon, has claimed culls are only effective in the sense that you have a dead badger at the end of it.

Farming unions have expressed concern that the Welsh Government’s latest TB consultation has failed to assess the impact its proposals will have on farm finances, cattle welfare and veterinary capacity. 

The new officeholder team at NFU Cymru have urged Plaid Cymru to keep pushing Labour on bovine TB policy, despite the deal the two parties have reached to work together.