Pre-movement testing cattle for bovine TB is to be reinstated in parts of Wales with historically low rates of the disease because the number of herd breakdowns is on the rise.

As part of its new TB Eradication Delivery Plan for 2023-2028, the Welsh Government will introduce legislation to make pre-movement testing compulsory for farmers in low TB Areas, including Anglesey, for moving cattle within or out of those regions.

The number of herd breakdowns on Anglesey is at an eight-year high.

There will also be changes for farmers in intermediate TB Areas, including Builth Wells, Newtown, Welshpool, with a requirement for post-movement testing of cattle bought in from high risk areas in Wales and England and from Northern Ireland.

In Pembrokeshire, a county with a worsening TB picture despite stringent cattle controls, a project to identify residual disease risk in cattle that test clear is being rolled out.

Animals considered high risk could be slaughtered, and farmers will need to introduce enhanced biosecurity measures which will be overseen by vets.

Feeding unpasteurised milk to livestock on farms that have had their TB-free status officially withdrawn (OTFW) will be banned.

Farmers hoping for wildlife controls beyond localised badger vaccination were left disappointed by the refreshed programme.

There will be no culling but badger vaccination will be stepped up, including on Holy Island, off Anglesey, to prevent the disease spreading from cattle to badgers.

It was also suggested that some actions, for instance farm biosecurity requirements, could be linked to payments in the new Sustainable Farming Scheme going forward.

A new TB Eradication Programme Board, with members appointed by ministers for the first time, will be set up later this year.

The government said its new measures would make Wales TB-free by 2041.

Latest figures show that 5.3% of cattle herds in Wales have TB, down from 7.8% in 2009 when the disease peaked.

In the 12 months to December 2022 there were 599 new herd incidents and 9,516 cattle slaughtered.

In her statement, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths said the theme of the new programme was “partnership working’’.

“We cannot eradicate TB alone, without the support, engagement and ownership of the farming industry and veterinary profession."

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