Pembrokeshire farmers concerned by added cost burden

Added costs, the bureaucracy and the practicalities of pre-movement testing of cattle for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) was the major talking point of Pembrokeshire farmers when they met recently at the monthly NFU Cymru meeting held in Haverfordwest.

With pre-movement testing being introduced in Wales on 2 May, it was highlighted by local farmers that they were being asked to take on the burden and cost of increased cattle testing, yet the Welsh Assembly has still not issued a clear strategy on how they propose to deal with TB in wildlife.

Stephen Alderman, Pembrokeshire NFU Council delegate, said, "We are being asked to do our side of the bargain in controlling TB yet others are not prepared to do their side by tackling the problem of the disease in wildlife.

"As farmers in Pembrokeshire, we have concerns at the extra costs and bureaucracy that this system will place on farmers; in particular the cost implications of moving animals to summer grazing and even between holdings in the same ownership.

"Just moving our cattle to fields a mile or so down the road for summer grazing could result in us requiring a TB test to move them and a TB test before they return. This will result in us needing a vet to visit a farm four times just to move cattle to fresh pasture!"

NFU Cymru members asked for the Welsh Assembly Government and the State Veterinary Service to issue clear guidance so that farmers were aware of the full implications of the new rules and under what circumstances exemptions to pre-movement testing was allowed to try to mitigate some of the additional costs facing the industry.

Mr Alderman concluded, "NFU Cymru has written to Carwyn Jones, Minister for Environment, Planning and Countryside, to ask for help to meet the significant additional costs that farmers in TB hotspot areas will face from 2 May and highlighted once again that this is a disease that needs to be controlled in wildlife as well as cattle."