O dan amodau arferol, rhaid cynnal profion croen ar holl wartheg 42 diwrnod oed a hŷn mewn buches i gadw neu adfer statws “Heb TB Swyddogol” y fuches. Dyna sydd wedi bod yn digwydd i’r graddau ei bod yn ddiogel gwneud hynny o fewn y rheolau ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol. Fodd bynnag, mae milfeddygon a ffermwyr wedi cysylltu â Llywodraeth Cymru i fynegi pryderon am eu gallu i gadw at y rheol 2 fetr wrth roi profion TB i loi, sy’n gorfod cael eu trin yn wahanol i wartheg llawndwf. Er mwyn gallu parhau i brofi buchesi, ers mis Mawrth, cafodd y rheolau eu newid er mwyn peidio â phrofi lloi o dan 180 diwrnod oed.  Hefyd, ar gyfer ffermwyr oedd yn cysgodi, cynghorir milfeddygon i beidio â chynnal profion nes ei bod yn ddiogel gwneud hynny ac na roddir gwybod i asiantaethau talu os yw profion TB ar y ffermydd hynny’n mynd yn hwyr am resymau sy’n gysylltiedig â COVID-19.  Rydym yn cadw golwg ar y newidiadau hyn i’r rheolau tra bo’r rheolau ar gadw pellter cymdeithasol oherwydd COVID-19 mewn grym. Yr wyf wedi gofyn i'r Prif Swyddog Milfeddygol ddadansoddi'r data sydd ar gael ers dechrau'r clo. Er bod nifer y profion a gwblhawyd rhwng Ebrill ac  Awst, o'u cymharu â'r llynedd wedi gostwng 6%,mae'r dystiolaeth yn awgrymu bod y tebygolrwydd y gall profion hwyr gael effaith sylweddol ar yr ymdrechion cenedlaethol i ddileu TB dros y tymor byr i ganolig, yn debygol o fod yn isel iawn.
In normal times, all cattle 42 days of age and older must be included in herd skin tests carried out to maintain or restore the herd’s TB free status. This has still been taking place so long as it is safe to do so within COVID-19 social distancing guidelines. However, the Welsh Government received representations from vets and farmers raising concerns about their ability to maintain the 2 metre rule whilst TB testing calves, which require handling in a different way to adult cattle. In order for herds to still be tested a temporary amendment of exempting calves under 180 days from testing has been in place since March. Furthermore where farmers are shielding, vets are advised not to test until it is safe to do so and farms where their test goes overdue for COVID-19 related reasons are not being referred to payment agencies. These easements are being kept under regular review while social distancing measures related to the COVID-19 epidemic are in force. I have asked the Chief Veterinary Officer to analyse the data available since the beginning of lockdown. Although the number of tests completed between April and August, when compared to last year is down by 6%,the evidence suggests the likelihood of a significant impact on the national TB eradication efforts being caused by delays in testing over the short to medium term, is considered likely to be very low.