Those in attendance heard from a panel of experts about the ongoing work across the industry to tackle the disease.

Panel discussion

The meeting saw members hear from NFU Cymru TB Focus Group Chairman, Roger Lewis and NFU Cymru Deputy President, Abi Reader, alongside representatives from APHA Wales and Iechyd Da, Veterinary Delivery Partners for South Wales. A number of farming charities were also in attendance.

NFU Cymru Pembrokeshire County Chairman Simon Davies and Monmouthshire farmer Gary Yeomans who both chaired the meetings said:

“The purpose of the meetings was to give our members the opportunity to hear of the work being done on their behalf of the union in relation to bovine TB and for a panel of experts to answer the many questions members have about TB in their own herds.”

An insight into the NFU Cymru TB Focus Group

Those in attendance heard from Pembrokeshire dairy farmer Roger Lewis, who chairs NFU Cymru’s TB focus Group, who gave an insight in to the work of the group and the list of recommendations that have been put to Welsh Government. Roger highlighted the desire of the group to see the farmer’s own vet being able to play a far greater role in the management of a TB breakdown on farm. He also talked of the need to look at all the communications farmers receive during a breakdown, how to make this less cumbersome and more understandable for the farming family struggling to come to terms with the disease on their farm.

Roger also talked about his hopes that a pilot project currently being developed in Pembrokeshire between farmers, Aberystwyth University and Iechyd Da looking to make better use of TB data to help tackle the disease on farm.

Roger talked of his passion and determination to eradicate this disease from Wales to ensure that the next generation of farmers did not have to deal with the trauma and impact that this disease was causing to this generation.  

Latest work across the industry

Next, members heard from APHA Wales, who discussed their role in the delivery of Bovine TB policy on behalf of Welsh Government. A discussion took place on the skin test and the range of other tests that APHA use on farm, when and why they are used.  

Vets from Iechyd Da, the South Wales Veterinary Delivery Partnership, talked about Cymorth TB in Wales and its role to help famers understand their herd breakdown better. Cymorth is available for free to any farmer under restrictions and looks at what can be done on farm to control the burden of disease on farm. 

Join us for our final meeting