Welsh Farmers Set Out Their Plan to Eradicate Bovine TB 2026

Key Points

• This publication is entitled A Mandate for Bovine TB Eradication in Wales: A Farmer’s Perspective, by The Farmers’ Union of Wales.
• This book has been produced in light of the union’s interest in bovine TB policy and its implications on Welsh farms.
• It is claimed that the approach towards controlling the disease has to be practical, evidence-based and realistic.
• This campaign draws attention to the economic, psychological and practical consequences of the bovine TB restrictions.
• According to The Farmers’ Union of Wales, farmers should play an active role in developing the bovine TB eradication policy.
• The main aim of the publication is to demonstrate the standpoint of the farming community with respect to bovine TB in Wales.
• Every strategy for the long-term eradication of bovine TB will necessarily involve cattle testing, wildlife TB, farm movements and compensation issues.

Wales (Wales Times) August 19, 2026 – the Farmers’ Union of Wales has launched A Mandate for Bovine TB Eradication in Wales: A Farmer’s Point of View, setting out the concerns and priorities of farmers affected by bovine tuberculosis control measures.

The publication presents bovine TB eradication in Wales from the perspective of farmers who manage cattle, respond to testing requirements and face the consequences when disease is identified within a herd. The document is positioned as a contribution to the wider policy debate and seeks to ensure that the experience of farming communities is included in future decisions.

The launch comes as bovine TB remains one of the most difficult and contested issues facing Welsh agriculture. Disease-control measures affect not only cattle health but also farm planning, trading decisions, breeding programmes, cash flow and the emotional wellbeing of farming families.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales has described the publication as a farmer-focused mandate. Its central message is that eradication policy must be workable on farms and must recognise the different circumstances faced by cattle businesses across Wales.

Why has the publication been launched now?

The publication was launched to coincide with the Farmers’ Union of Wales’ continuing engagement with the bovine TB debate, including activity connected with Pembrokeshire. The organisation’s decision to frame the document around a farmer’s point of view reflects the importance of first-hand experience in discussions about disease control.

Bovine TB policy has traditionally involved difficult choices between testing, restrictions, herd management, wildlife interventions and financial support. Farmers are directly affected by each part of that system. A positive test can lead to movement restrictions, the removal of cattle and disruption to a farm’s breeding or production plans.

The union’s publication therefore seeks to place the consequences for individual farms at the centre of the discussion. Rather than treating bovine TB as only a technical or veterinary issue, it presents the disease as a wider rural policy challenge involving agriculture, animal welfare, public administration and the future viability of family farms.

The document also arrives at a time when farmers and policymakers continue to debate the most effective route towards eradication. The farming sector has repeatedly called for certainty, consistency and measures that are supported by clear evidence. Policymakers, meanwhile, face pressure to reduce disease levels while maintaining public confidence in how cattle and wildlife are managed.

What concerns are being raised by Welsh farmers?

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ farmer-focused approach draws attention to the practical effect of bovine TB controls. Farmers must often make major operational decisions in response to testing results and movement restrictions, even when the wider herd appears healthy.

A bovine TB breakdown can affect a farm in several ways:

• Cattle may be removed from the herd after testing.
• Movement restrictions can prevent animals from being sold or transferred.
• Breeding plans may be interrupted.
• Farm income can be affected by delays and reduced trading opportunities.
• Replacement-stock decisions may become more difficult.
• Families may face prolonged uncertainty while further testing is completed.
• The welfare impact of repeated testing and herd disruption can be significant.

For farmers, the issue is not limited to the outcome of an individual test. Disease-control procedures can influence a business for months or years, particularly where repeated breakdowns occur. The effect may also extend beyond the farm itself, affecting hauliers, livestock markets, feed suppliers, veterinary practices and other rural businesses.

The publication’s emphasis on a farmer’s point of view indicates that the union wants these wider consequences to be recognised when eradication policies are designed or reviewed.

How does bovine TB affect farm decision-making?

Bovine TB can make ordinary farm planning more complicated. Cattle farms generally operate around carefully managed cycles involving calving, rearing, breeding, sales and herd replacement. Testing restrictions can interrupt those cycles and reduce a farmer’s ability to respond to market conditions.

A farm under movement restrictions may not be able to sell animals at the planned time. This can create pressure on housing, feed supplies and labour. In some cases, farmers may have to retain animals longer than expected, while also preparing for additional testing.

The uncertainty can be particularly difficult for smaller family farms. Larger businesses may have more capacity to absorb disruption, although they can also face substantial losses when a breakdown affects a large herd. The impact depends on the type of enterprise, the timing of the restriction, the number of cattle involved and the length of the control period.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ publication is therefore significant because it places farm management realities alongside the scientific and administrative aspects of disease control. Farmers want policies that reduce infection but also allow viable agricultural businesses to continue operating.

Why is evidence important in the eradication debate?

Any bovine TB eradication programme must rely on veterinary and scientific evidence. However, the union’s position suggests that evidence must also be translated into measures that can be applied consistently and effectively on farms.

Farmers are likely to assess disease-control policies through practical questions. They may ask whether a measure reduces infection, whether it can be enforced fairly, whether it creates avoidable costs and whether it works across different types of land and farming systems.

Evidence-led policy also requires transparent evaluation. Where a measure is introduced, farmers and the public need to understand how its success will be assessed. Clear reporting can help demonstrate whether infection levels are falling and whether the policy is producing the intended results.

The debate can become especially contentious when different stakeholders place different levels of emphasis on cattle testing, farm biosecurity, wildlife disease and movement controls. A credible eradication strategy must explain how these elements fit together rather than presenting one intervention as a complete solution.

What role do cattle testing and movement controls play?

Testing remains a central part of bovine TB control because it is used to identify infected or potentially infected cattle. When a herd is affected, further tests and restrictions may be required to determine whether the disease remains present.

Movement controls are designed to reduce the risk of infected cattle spreading disease to other herds. They can also help veterinary authorities investigate possible links between farms and livestock movements.

From a farmer’s perspective, however, testing and restrictions can have serious commercial consequences. A business may lose animals, miss planned sales or face additional costs while waiting for restrictions to be lifted. The timing of tests can also affect calving, winter housing and seasonal management.

The union’s farmer-centred mandate indicates that these controls must be considered alongside their effect on farm viability. The objective of reducing disease must be balanced with procedures that are timely, transparent and proportionate.

How does wildlife disease fit into bovine TB eradication?

Wildlife is another major part of the bovine TB debate. Policymakers and farming organisations have considered the role of wildlife populations in maintaining or transmitting infection, while animal welfare and conservation groups have raised concerns about interventions involving wildlife.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ publication contributes to a debate in which farmers want the disease risk from all relevant sources to be addressed. Their argument is that controlling infection in cattle alone may not achieve eradication if disease can persist elsewhere. At the same time, any wildlife policy requires clear evidence, careful implementation and monitoring.

A comprehensive strategy must distinguish between confirmed evidence, scientific uncertainty and assumptions. It should also explain how the effectiveness of wildlife measures will be measured and how animal welfare obligations will be met.

This is one of the reasons bovine TB policy remains politically sensitive. Different groups may agree that eradication is desirable but disagree about the methods, timetable and acceptable level of intervention.

What does the Farmers’ Union of Wales want policymakers to consider?

The launch of the mandate suggests that the Farmers’ Union of Wales wants policymakers to take several factors into account when developing eradication measures.

These include the need for:

• Policies that reflect the different cattle systems operating across Wales.
• Clear communication with farmers before measures are introduced.
• Consistent application of testing and movement rules.
• Effective support for farms affected by disease restrictions.
• Recognition of the financial and emotional impact of herd breakdowns.
• Continued use of scientific evidence and transparent evaluation.
• A coordinated approach involving farmers, veterinary authorities and other rural stakeholders.
• Long-term policy certainty rather than frequent changes in direction.

The union’s approach also underlines the importance of farmer involvement. Farmers are responsible for implementing many disease-control measures and are therefore among the first to identify whether a policy is workable in practice.

Could farmer involvement improve disease-control policy?

Greater farmer involvement could improve policy by bringing operational knowledge into the decision-making process. Farmers understand how testing schedules, movement restrictions and herd management interact with weather, labour, markets and animal welfare.

Consultation does not remove the need for independent veterinary expertise. Instead, it can help ensure that scientific recommendations are adapted responsibly to real farm conditions. Effective communication may also improve compliance by giving farmers a clearer understanding of why particular measures are required.

For involvement to be meaningful, farmers would need access to understandable information and opportunities to provide feedback. Their concerns would also need to be considered before final decisions are made, rather than after a policy has already been introduced.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ publication provides a formal way for the organisation to present those concerns and priorities. It also gives policymakers a reference point when considering how proposed interventions could affect rural businesses.

What are the wider consequences for Wales?

Bovine TB has implications beyond individual cattle herds. Wales has a substantial rural economy in which agriculture supports local employment, services and supply chains. Prolonged disease restrictions can affect the confidence of farming families and the financial stability of businesses connected to livestock production.

The issue also has a public dimension. Taxpayers fund aspects of disease control and compensation, while consumers and the wider public expect high standards of animal welfare. Policymakers must therefore demonstrate that eradication spending is effective and that interventions are justified.

Rural communities may also experience social effects when farms face repeated breakdowns. The stress associated with uncertainty, animal losses and business disruption can place pressure on families and reduce confidence in the future of farming.

A successful policy must consequently address disease levels while considering the resilience of rural communities. The launch of the farmer mandate highlights the need to treat bovine TB as both an agricultural and a community issue.

What happens next in the bovine TB debate?

The publication is likely to be used by the Farmers’ Union of Wales in discussions with policymakers, veterinary authorities and other organisations involved in disease control. Its impact will depend partly on how its recommendations are received and whether they influence future policy decisions.

The wider debate is expected to continue around the balance between cattle-based measures, wildlife interventions, farm biosecurity, testing systems and financial support. The main challenge for policymakers will be developing a strategy that is scientifically credible, operationally practical and capable of gaining support from affected communities.

Farmers will continue to look for evidence that policies are reducing disease while limiting unnecessary disruption. Any changes to the eradication programme are likely to be assessed against their effect on herd health, farm incomes, animal welfare and the long-term future of Welsh agriculture.

Background: Bovine TB eradication in Wales

Bovine tuberculosis is a cattle disease that can lead to testing, movement restrictions and the removal of affected animals. In Wales, its control has developed into a long-running policy issue involving farmers, veterinary professionals, the Welsh Government, animal-health authorities, wildlife specialists and campaigning organisations.

The disease-control process is intended to identify infection and limit its spread between herds. Measures can include routine testing, additional testing after suspected or confirmed breakdowns, restrictions on animal movements and steps to improve farm biosecurity.

The debate is complicated because bovine TB can involve several possible transmission pathways. Disease management may therefore require a combination of measures rather than a single intervention. The most effective approach must be supported by evidence and reviewed as new information becomes available.

The Farmers’ Union of Wales’ publication, A Mandate for Bovine TB Eradication in Wales: A Farmer’s Point of View, adds the perspective of farmers directly affected by these policies. Its launch provides a platform for the union to explain how eradication measures influence cattle businesses and rural communities.

Prediction: How could this affect Welsh farmers?

The development is likely to increase pressure on policymakers to explain how future bovine TB measures will work on individual farms. Welsh farmers may see greater emphasis on consultation, practical implementation, testing arrangements and the financial consequences of prolonged restrictions.

If the union’s position gains wider support, future policy discussions could place more weight on farmer experience alongside veterinary and scientific evidence. This may lead to calls for clearer guidance, improved communication and stronger assessment of the costs associated with disease breakdowns.

The immediate effect on individual farmers will depend on any policy changes that follow the publication. The launch itself does not alter testing rules, movement restrictions or compensation arrangements. Its significance is that it gives the farming sector a formal platform to influence the direction of bovine TB eradication in Wales.