NFU Cumru reacts to TB report

"Why should it fall on farmers to shoulder the cost and responsibility of cleaning up TB when it is the fault of the politicians for dragging their feet for eight years," was the angry reaction of NFU Cymru's Vice-President, Dai Davies, to the Welsh Assembly Government's report on bovine tuberculosis.

The report, released by the Environment, Planning and Countryside Committee recognises the adverse effects of bovine TB on farmers.

Dai Davies, Vice-President, said, "We welcome Assembly's holistic and pragmatic approach, the report and its recognition that Bovine TB brings suffering to animals and is adversely affecting farmers physically, mentally and financially. I can't help but feel however that this should have been done eight years ago."

Mr Davies continued, "Ireland is quite some way ahead of us when it comes to dealing with TB and we could learn a lot from there. In particular, I would favour following their system of annual tests on all cattle. This would replace the Welsh Assembly's current favoured route of pre-movement testing. Pre-movement testing has actually been proven as non-beneficial to the agricultural industry in Ireland because of the increased bureaucracy, less accurate results and the danger of over-testing animals."

Mr Davies concluded, "We would urge the Welsh Assembly Government to immediately implement the Committee's recommendations. This would go some way to retaining the confidence of both farmers and the public. Quite frankly the time for discussion, reviews and reports is over. The disease is out of control and Government need to act, and act quickly, for the sake of the agriculture industry, the wildlife population and the public purse."