A dairy farmer in Pembrokeshire, whose herd has gone down with bovine TB (bTB) after five years being clear, has criticised the Welsh Government for 鈥榥ot caring' and 'burying their heads in the sand'.听
Fourth-generation dairy farmer Steve Evans milks a 460-480 milking herd outside Haverfordwest. Last week he had 30 cows declared as reactors, which will be culled, and 47 inconclusive reactors (IRs). He said after blood tests, he was 'fully expecting all IRs' to leave the herd.
Tb valuation day! Heavily in calf cows that are destined for slaughter due to tb.
鈥� Steve Evans (@Evsthetractor)
Mr Evans said the majority of the reactors were in-calf and estimated that over the next 12 months, this bTB breakdown could cost his business more than 拢250,000.
"I was standing there thinking that the Government has to move on this fast, this is completely out of hand. How can we go from a clear test in March to this?
"The only reason we tested is because a farmer three miles away had gone down," he said, adding that testing in November as planned could have been 鈥榓bsolutely catastrophic'.
Bovine Tuberculosis听
Mr Evans said he was fearful of the growing threat in Pembrokeshire, with six other farms going down in the 鈥榣ast 16 weeks', suggesting there should have been an opportunity for a targeted trap badger test cull.
He was extremely frustrated by England being able to use 鈥榓ll tools in the box', including targeted badger culling, but said whenever there was any mention of wildlife in Wales 鈥榯he shutters come down'.
He added they had done everything within their power on biosecurity. Mr Evans said he would now have to 鈥榬eview everything on the farm' to mitigate the financial losses. "You end up spending more on rearing costs. Your workload increases but, because your income goes down, you have to let a staff member go. It is just a total disaster."
A Welsh Government spokesperson said听
"We are very aware of the challenge of TB听in cattle, and the distress it can cause for farmers across Wales. 听This is why we are determined to eradicate bovine听TB听in Wales as set out in the delivery plan which we published earlier this year. We are also providing ongoing support to farmer support and mental health networks.
"Since 2009 we have seen steady progress, with fewer affected herds and new incidents across Wales as a whole. It is also recognised that levels of听TB听in cattle continue to vary in different parts of Wales. This requires continued action by all involved - to both tackle the disease where it occurs, and to keep it out of herds.
"Our Programme for听Government听makes clear we will not cull badgers. However, there are ways farmers can limit the introduction of听TB听into their herds, through biosecurity. For example, measures may tackle听badger and cattle contact or reduce the risk of buying infected cattle. It is important to discuss such measures with your vet.
"We have also been clear听Government听cannot do this alone, and partnership working with our farmers and vets is crucial to reach our shared goal of a听TB-free Wales. The Minister regularly meets farmers, including at the upcoming Royal听Welsh听and summer shows."
