NFU Cymru has categorically rejected any proposals to introduce tabular valuations for cattle compulsorily slaughtered due to bovine TB.

In its response to the Welsh government consultation 'A refreshed TB eradication programme', NFU Cymru has stressed that the only fair way to value cattle compulsorily slaughtered as a result of bovine TB is on the basis of their individual merits.

The union states that its members are fundamentally opposed to the introduction of any system based on table valuations, highlighting that such proposals have significant shortcomings.

NFU Cymru president Aled Jones explained: “A tabular valuation system is not fair to the farmer or to government, because a system based on averages is likely to create as many instances of over valuation as undervaluation.

"A table valuation system takes no account of many important factors relating to the individual characteristics of the animal, for example size, weight, quality, stage of pregnancy, milk yield, genetic merit or animal health status.

“We often hear from Welsh government of the need for individual farming business to increase their resilience, improve productivity, business performance and the use of better performing genetic stock.

"Moving forward with a tabular valuation system will penalise the very farming businesses that Welsh government is purporting to champion.

“It is also important to note that the payment of compensation for a TB reactor does not in any way cover the consequential losses (the loss of production, inability to market produce, increased housing and feeding costs etc) sustained by the business as a result of a TB breakdown.

“Welsh government, in its consultation, suggests that its proposals are a result of an overspend of its TB budget.

"We are absolutely clear that the only way to reduce any overspend that government may have is to ensure that the disease is controlled quickly and effectively so that the disease has the smallest possible impact on the national herd."

He added: “From our consultation meetings and feedback as part of this consultation exercise there is no doubt that the anger and frustration within the industry at the repeated failure of successive governments to implement a comprehensive TB eradication strategy in Wales is as great as it has ever been.

"This has been further compounded by the Welsh Government 2021 Programme for Government that in relation to bovine TB has stated that it will ‘Forbid the culling of badgers to control the spread of TB in cattle’.

"This statement from Welsh government suggests that, regardless of science and evidence, this government has made a political decision to take away part of an eradication programme that has been used by every country that has implemented a successful TB eradication programme.”

The consultation document makes a number of proposals for changes to current policies, including changes to the current testing regime in the different TB regions of Wales.

NFU Cymru has set out three conditions prior to any of the testing proposals being implemented, these being:

• A comprehensive regulatory impact assessment and cost benefit analysis of the proposed changes on the cattle industry.

• An opportunity for industry to consider further once these assessments have been completed.

• The current compensation arrangements being maintained.