Encouraging signs in county bovine TB battle
The number of animals slaughtered in the fight against bovine TB cases has fallen in Shropshire over the last 12 months, new figures released by Defra have revealed.
A total of 1,911 animals were killed in Shropshire between June 2013 and May 2014, a decline from the 2,087 slaughtered in the same period in 2013-13 in the fight against the disease.
In that time, 315 new cases were found, compared with 378 for the corresponding period for 2012-13. Throughout 2013, 2,125 animals were slaughtered in Shropshire, and 353 new incidents of disease were found.
Wales has benefited from an 18 per cent decline in bovine TB cases, with Powys suffering 220 new cases over the last year, down from 251 in the same period in 2012-13.
Meanwhile, 1,238 animals have been slaughtered, far fewer than the 1,548 during the corresponding 12-month period to last May.
However, in the first five months of this year 733 animals were slaughtered to combat the virus, a rise from the 651 killed in the same period last year.
Across Britain, the 12 month period has seen the number of new cases of TB fall from 4,968 to 4,747, and the total cattle slaughtered decline from 37,271 to 31,786.
Defra's figures show a 31 per cent decline in the number of cattle slaughtered across Wales as a result of bovine TB.
In addition for the February to May period, the figures reveal that new incidents of the disease in 2014 were at their lowest level since 2008.
Welsh Agriculture Minister Rebecca Evans said: "Bovine TB continues to be one of the biggest problems facing the farming industry in Wales.
"Whilst we know that disease figures can fluctuate from month to month, these latest statistics continue to indicate a downward trend for bovine TB in Wales and this is very encouraging news.
"Our comprehensive TB eradication programme which has now been in place for over five years is based on solid evidence, and includes annual testing of cattle, strict biosecurity measures and movement control."
She added: "However we know that eradicating TB requires hard work, sustained effort over many years and a high level of co-operation between government and the industry.
"While we know there is much more to do to eradicate this disease from Wales, these statistics do show that we are moving in the right direction and that our hard work is starting to make a difference to the disease picture in Wales."
A total of 5,936 cattle were slaughtered in Wales as a result of TB between June 2013 and May 2014 compared to 8595 cattle slaughtered between June 2012 and May 2013. This marks a 31 per cent decrease.
