The Welsh Government says it will take a science-led approach to tackling bovine TB in the latest update to its eradication programme, but farmers say this can’t be achieved if the disease spread in wildlife is not controlled.

Among the new measures set to be introduced is the establishment of a technical advisory group to advise ministers on the science for tackling bovine TB in cattle herds, set up by Glyn Hewinson, a world-renowned expert on the disease.

In its announcement this month, the government said other measures would include expanding the Badger Vaccination Grant Scheme to more farms.

But this comes at the expense of the badger trap and test programme in persistent TB breakdown herds as the government plans to phase this out.

The movement of cattle between approved rearing and finishing units will be permitted without the requirement for a pre-movement test and there has also been a doubling in the time period that cattle can be moved to a TB approved finishing unit after they test negative for TB, from 30 days to 60.

The announcement, which follows a three-month consultation on proposals for a refreshed bovine TB programme, has drawn a mixed reaction.

NFU Cymru said disease eradication would only be achieved “if the disease is tackled across all its vectors’’

Pembrokeshire dairy farmer Roger Lewis, who chairs the NFU Cymru TB Focus Group, said farmers were “deeply frustrated’’ at the government’s refusal to consider widespread wildlife controls.

“Bovine TB is a complex disease that requires a comprehensive approach to eradication and we believe that it should be tackled wherever it exists – whether that be in cattle or the wildlife.’’

Meanwhile the Welsh Conservatives suggested that the eradication strategy needed an “adrenaline boost’’.

“With new tests coming online, stricter interpretation of current tests and targeted intervention for those herds under continuous breakdown, there are ways to break the transmission link,’’ said Shadow Rural Affairs minister Samuel Kurtz.

The consultation had also looked at TB compensation payments with support for the establishment of an industry levy group similar to the New Zealand Animal Health Board (AHB).

But the Farmers’ Union of Wales is deeply critical of this approach since a similar group in Wales would not have the same powers.

“The New Zealand Board was also responsible for implementing the National Pest Management Programme which ensured that wildlife sources of TB infection were appropriately dealt with,’’ said FUW senior policy officer Hazel Wright.

“The FUW cannot support a future scheme which cherry-picks from those strategies present elsewhere in a manner which places the greatest burden, cost and responsibility upon cattle keepers who remain powerless to protect their businesses from other forms of disease spread.’’