By Debbie James

A proposal to classify parts of Pembrokeshire as a ‘high risk’ bovine TB zone, with targeted badger removal on farms with persistent disease breakdowns, is being supported by Welsh politicians.

The Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee broadly supports proposals set out in the Welsh Government’s refreshed TB eradication programme.

Although the government has yet to announce how it plans to move forward with disease eradication, the committee supports the proposed regional approach to tackling TB; this would categorise parts of Wales into high, medium and low-risk areas, with some parts of Pembrokeshire in the highest category.

The possibility of a targeted cull of badgers on up to 60 farms with persistent outbreaks of TB, where other measures have proven to be ineffective, is also supported.

But the committee warned that any badger culling policy must be scientifically monitored and reviewed “to make sure it is working’’. If not, the practice needs to be stopped or changed, it said.

Surveillance testing of cattle herds and risk-based trading, which involves buyers and sellers sharing details about the TB status of cattle, should be among the options considered, the committee has suggested.

The committee also wants to see a target date set for when Wales will be TB free; the Welsh Government currently has no timetable for eradication.

The committee’s interim chairwoman, Jenny Rathbone, said the committee had examined the strategies being used in the UK and globally.

The committee concluded that a refreshed strategy is needed in Wales, which encompasses a regional approach to eradicating TB, movement restrictions on infected herds and risk-based trading among other options.

“We also need to keep a close eye on the management of larger dairy herds and any link with the slurry they make,’’ said Ms Rathbone.

The committee wants the Welsh government to ensure that current funding received from the EU for TB testing is guaranteed after Brexit.

The level of compensation handed to farmers whose herds are destroyed by TB was also discussed. The Welsh Government has proposed reducing the maximum amount it pays in compensation from £15,000 to £5,000.

The government will now consider the report and issue a statement on its updated approach to eradicating TB before the summer recess.

NFU Cymru cautiously welcomed the report, supporting the recommendation that Welsh Government should set eradication targets.

“The agricultural industry now anxiously awaits the Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs’ statement on the Welsh Government’s bovine TB strategy,’’ said deputy president, John Davies.

“It is high time that promising words are turned into direct action in the form of the introduction of a policy of targeted badger removal in cases of chronic breakdown herds where the evidence shows that both cattle and wildlife are suffering.”

The Farmers’ Union of Wales said it welcomed the recommendation of the committee that Wales should set a national target date for freedom from bovine TB.

Dr Hazel Wright, FUW senior policy officer, said: “Other countries, such as New Zealand, Ireland and England have established bovine TB eradication programmes which set target dates for being TB free and the FUW has consistently highlighted this in recent months.

“Having a target date for Wales to be officially TB free provides clarity on the process and focusses the eradication programme. More importantly, it provides accountability and allows the industry to evaluate whether the strategy is working.”