Wales to get TB-clear cattle passport sticker
Farmers who buy cattle in Wales can now identify when an animal had its last clear bovine tuberculosis test.
A voluntary TB passport sticker scheme has been introduced by Wales’ TB Regional Eradication Delivery Boards following a successful pilot in north Wales.
All farmers in Wales will now have access to stickers recording TB tests to attach to their cattle passports.
Peredur Hughes, who sits on the Caernarfon regional board, said the pilot demonstrated the effectiveness of the system. “It is a quick and efficient way to identify when cattle have been TB tested, whether going through the mart or sold from farm to farm,” he said.
Dyfrig Siencyn, chief executive of the company that runs the livestock auction at Dolgellau, said he had seen major benefits during the pilot period.
“Since their introduction, the TB test stickers on the passports have proved extremely popular with vendors and buyers.
“Buyers can quickly see when the animal was tested so they can fit in with their own testing arrangements,” he said.
Although pre-movement testing is a legal requirement in Wales, the sticker scheme is voluntary.