The latest figures on bovine bTB in Scotland show that the number of cattle being compulsorily slaughtered has fallen by over 50%, from 766 to 356. However, the number of herds deemed not bTB-free remains consistent. The figures for slaughtered bTB cattle are the lowest since 2020 for a 12-month period, with the latest set of DEFRA numbers running up to March 2024.

Between March 2023 and March 2024, over 255,000 cattle in Scotland were tested, with over 2000 farms inspected, which is a similar level to previous years. In total, 48 herds were deemed not officially bTB-free due to a bovine incident, which is one more than the previous year.

Over the last twenty years, there has been a steady decline in the number of herds being deemed not bTB-free, from a high of 127 in 2003. The total number of herds in Scotland recorded in the Government’s bTB database has also fallen, from over 15,000 in 2003 to less than 13,000 in the latest published figures.

By comparison, in the year leading up to March 2024, England slaughtered over 21,000 cattle, and Wales over 11,000. Over 4400 herds were officially not bTB-free in England, while Wales had 1220 herds.

NFU Scotland Vice President Alasdair Macnab, a farmer and vet, said: “The Bovine bTB statistics for Scotland are a tribute to the ongoing vigilance and diligence being shown by Scottish livestock farmers to preserve our officially bTB-free status. They also back the Scottish Government’s approach to tackling this disease.

“Given the nature of bTB, the low level of bTB cases recorded in Scotland annually, and its presence in other parts of the UK, there is no room for complacency. Compliance with routine herd testing requirements and the pre- and post-movement testing regime for bought-in stock are crucial to preserving this status. Farmers need to plan their buying-in policy for cattle carefully, particularly with consideration to isolation, to help keep Scotland free of bTB, as most cases recorded in Scotland are linked to imports from elsewhere in the UK or the Republic of Ireland.”

Meanwhile Welsh farm leaders have welcomed the announcement made by the Cabinet Secretary that he has appointed a new Welsh Government Bovine TB Programme Board.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies has appointed a new board which will oversee and provide guidance to the government on their bTB eradication programme.

Board members will be confirmed in due course, but the Cabinet Secretary said he intended for the Board to largely be made up of farmers from different parts of Wales and people from farming backgrounds. The Board will be chaired by a farmer.