LATEST statistics reveal a drop in the number of recorded cases of bovine TB.

New incidents of bTB in Wales are said to be at their lowest recorded level since 2008, for the period from February to May this year.

The fall has been cautiously welcomed as an encouraging sign that the TB eradication programme is helping move things in the right direction.

Figures collated by Defra also show that new cases are down 18 per cent on the previous 12 month period, with a 31% decline in the number of cattle slaughtered in Wales as a result.

Between June 2013 and May 2014, 826 new incidents of bovine TB were recorded in Wales compared to 1,009 between June 2012 and May 2013.

TB led to 5,936 cattle being slaughtered in Wales between June 2013 and May this year, down from 8,595 between June 2012 and May last year.

Wales' Deputy Minister for Agriculture Rebecca Evans said: “Bovine TB continues to be one of the biggest problems facing the farming industry in Wales. It is a devastating disease and one that as a Government we are working hard to eradicate.

“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.

“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."

The latest statistics can be found on the Welsh Government website (http://wales.gov.uk/statistics-and-research/incidence-tuberculosis-cattle-great-britain/?lang=en).