Welsh bTB measures labelled "draconian"
NFU Cymru is calling for more "proportionate" bovine TB cattle controls, following the introduction of what it regards as an ever increasing number of "draconian" measures by the Welsh Government.
Frustration is already rife amongst Welsh famers after the Government opted out of a proposed badger cull in favour of a vaccination programme instead, which has been described by farmers as "untested, unproven and costly."
Andrew Lewis, the union's Pembrokeshire county chairman, said: "I fear we farmers will pay a harsh price for our Government's failure to grasp the nettle and take the tough decisions needed to safeguard our industry."
“I and other cattle keepers in the West Wales bovine intensive action area have conformed to a raft of additional controls and restrictions over and above any other area of Wales and at significant additional financial cost to our businesses.
“We accepted this on the understanding that it was part of a comprehensive package of measures to eradicate the disease and that the Welsh Government would also deliver a policy of badger control to remove the reservoir of infection circulating in wildlife.
“The Welsh Government has failed to keep its side of the bargain and at the very least I would expect it to review some of the additional measures which are having most impact on the day-to-day running of our farm businesses."
He added: “We believe farmers should have the opportunity to work closely with their own vets so that, subject to a risk assessment and the approval of suitable separation facilities on the farm, new animals can be brought in without having to wait at least two months.”
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
