Farm leaders chose Pembrokeshire County Show as their platform for a renewed call for “decisive action” to eradicate bovine TB.

Latest figures revealed a 61% increase in the number of cattle slaughtered in Pembrokeshire due to the disease.

NFU Cymru said there was much “anger and frustration” over what it described as the Welsh government’s failing TB policy.

The union hit out as farmers gathered at the Pembrokeshire County Show in Haverfordwest.

Welsh government figures show that in the past 12 months, to May 2016, 8,973 cattle were slaughtered in Wales due to bovine TB – a 37% year-on-year increase. In Pembrokeshire alone, 2,652 cattle were slaughtered in the 12 months to May 2016.

However, the number of new herd incidents in Wales decreased by 17% over the same period.

Leaders of the Farmers’ Union of Wales also brought up the issue in extensive talks with Welsh rural affairs secretary Lesley Griffiths, local MP Simon Hart and AM Paul Davies.

The Welsh government abandoned its badger vaccination trial last December due to a vaccine shortage.

NFU Cymru president Stephen James said cattle farmers were “continuing to play their part” in bearing down on the disease by adhering to stringent cattle movement and testing controls.

But he emphasised that a TB eradication plan must also include a strategy for dealing with the disease reservoir in wildlife, in areas where it is endemic.

“We now look to this new Welsh government to look again at the current TB strategy,’’ he said.

But Welsh farm minister Lesley Griffiths would consider options for a “refreshed” TB programme over the coming weeks, added the spokesman.

“As part of that, she will be considering the wildlife issue alongside new cattle and biosecurity measures.

“It is clear from the epidemiological evidence presented to date that we should be exploring a more targeted approach at farm and area level.”