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Data on tests, new incidents, restricted herds and cattle slaughtered with bovine TB for June 2023.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Statistics release, on which this statistical headline is based, includes statistics based on the Wales TB areas.

New TB herd incidents

Figure 1: New herd incidents in Wales, January 2008 to June 2023

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Description of Figure 1: A line and bar chart showing the trend in new herd incidents in Wales since 2008. The light blue bars indicate the monthly number of new incidents while the dark line indicates the 12-month rolling average of new incidents. There were 609 new incidents in the 12 months to June 2023, a decrease of 6.2% compared with the previous 12 months when there were 649 new incidents.

Source: Defra bovine TB statistics published on 13 September 2023

Animals slaughtered for TB control

Figure 2: Animals slaughtered for TB control, January 2008 to June 2023

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Description of Figure 2: A line and bar chart showing the trend in animals slaughtered in Wales since 2008. The light blue bars indicate the monthly number of animals slaughtered while the dark line indicates the 12-month rolling average of animals slaughtered. There were 9,529 animals slaughtered in the 12 months to June 2023, a decrease of 1.8% compared with the previous 12 months when there were 9,700 animals slaughtered.

Source: Defra bovine TB statistics published on 13 September 2023

Further information

The overall trend for animals slaughtered due to bovine TB control is variable. Much of the rise since 2014 is attributable to increased use of high-sensitivity testing. For example, gamma-testing, removal of Inconclusive Reactors (IRs) and severe interpretation of the skin test have all been used with the intention of clearing up infection and reducing the risk of the disease spreading and breakdowns recurring.

The monthly series is variable, and peaks can be expected from time to time. There had been an increase in the trend since the peak in October 2018 was reached, this has since fallen. Further analysis of this trend up to June 2019 has been published in the statistical article: Analysis on the number of animals slaughtered due to bovine TB controls, October 2018 to June 2019.

Contact

James Webster

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