The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed the appointment of members to the Bovine TB Eradication Programme Board.

The announcement from the cabinet secretary for climate change and rural affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies, completes the revised governance structure as outlined in the Wales TB Eradication Programme Delivery Plan 2023-2028.

FUW deputy president and dairy farmer, Dai Miles, said: "The FUW welcomes the opportunity to have a seat at the table, alongside a team with a wealth of knowledge and practical experience in this field, to tackle the myriad of issues facing Welsh family farms in eradicating bovine TB."

The establishment of the Programme Board was announced earlier this summer at the Anglesey Agricultural Show.

The cabinet secretary confirmed the members of the Board while addressing the fourth annual AberTB conference, held on September 18 at Aberystwyth University.

Mr Miles added: "As a union, we are keen to play our part on the Eradication Programme Board and work closely with the Technical Advisory Group in reviewing important matters relevant to bovine TB eradication."

One of the Programme Board's priorities will be to consider the bovine TB six-year milestone target review and policy relating to the management of Inconclusive Reactor test results.

Mr Miles concluded: "As an industry, we cannot continue with the status quo.

"We must grasp this opportunity to work collaboratively as an industry to influence and direct change, not only for the present health and wellbeing of our cattle and farmers, but also for our future generations."

According to the FUW, over the last six years there has been a 0.09 per cent reduction in the number of ‘Not Officially TB Free’ herds in Wales.

The Welsh Government has set a goal of bovine TB freedom by 2041.