Bluetongue sheep ‘had tested negative’

The farmer at the centre of Wales' first bluetongue case yesterday insisted his infected sheep was "tested and re-tested" before being imported from Holland.

Dutch Texel breeder Jan Rodenburg said the 14 sheep he bought in the Netherlands were tested before and after a two-week quarantine.

The infected sheep has been destroyed and movement restrictions have been imposed on Mr Rodenburg's Ceredigion farm at Rhydyceir, Capel Dewi, Llandysul.

Welsh Assembly Government officials have insisted that Wales remains free of the disease but they have called on farmers for extra vigilance.

Mr Rodenburg, who runs 180 pure Dutch Texel ewes alongside a 100-head dairy herd, said he had taken advice on import regulations because bluetongue was endemic in Holland.

The sheep were sprayed with insecticide, tested and found to be negative for the deadly virus, which is spread by midges.

"Then we were allowed to move them," he said.