Wales’ Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones has visited a farm in Pembrokeshire to see at first hand the impact bovine TB has on farming families.
Nick and Nadia Gwynnes’ prize winning Chestermann Herd of pedigree Simmental cows was formed in 1993 and now consists of 60 cows. The herd was TB tested in June this year and, for the first time in 31 years of farming, a TB reactor was found. Now, the farm is under TB restrictions and the Gwynnes are unable to trade.
The Gwynne family run Rhos ddu Farm in Crymych, which is within the Intensive Action Area established by the Welsh Assembly Government to tackle all sources of bovine TB, in both domestic and wild animal species.
Because the Gwynnes’ farm is within the Intensive Action Area they are subject to strict cattle control measures, which means that they will be under restrictions for longer than is usual in other parts of Wales.
Nick explained the impact that this has had on the farm:
“I don’t think people realise what it means to have a TB breakdown. Until we have two clear tests, we will be under restrictions. This means that we can’t trade and will have no income coming in from our cattle for four months.
“Our biggest market is Scotland, but we will miss the autumn pedigree sales this year. The fact that we have had TB could affect us long term, as Scottish farmers are already reluctant to buy livestock from Wales because of TB.
“We now have to keep and feed the cattle over the winter, even though we’ve got no income coming in. Because we’re organic this could cost us £15,000 so we are reluctantly thinking of getting out of being organic.”
Nadia said:
“I can’t believe the impact this has had on us personally as well as financially. We had considered moving to Scotland earlier this year because it is TB free.
“We don’t want to move, but we want to carry on farming. It’s heartbreaking.”
Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones said:
“It is clear from speaking to the Gwynnes, and to many other farming families affected, that there is an immense human cost of bovine TB.
“Their situation is sadly familiar, and reinforces my determination to eradicate bovine TB from Wales.
“Cattle controls are an important part of eradicating bovine TB and, while I appreciate that restrictions are hard to live with, they are in place for the long term benefit. We are consulting at the moment on proposals to deal with badgers, which also play an important part in spreading TB, in the Intensive Action Area.”
The Intensive Action Area is primarily located in north Pembrokeshire, but includes small parts of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire. This is one of the areas with the highest incidence of bovine TB in Europe. In the last seven years around of 70% of farms in the area have had TB.
This week, the Welsh Assembly Government is issuing every household in the Intensive Action Area and surrounding villages and towns with a factsheet about bovine TB. The aim of the leaflet is to inform local people about the TB eradication programme and to encourage them to take part in the current consultation on the TB Badger Strategy for the Intensive Action Area.
People can read the consultation documents and the evidence considered by the Minister for Rural Affairs on the Welsh Assembly Government website or in the following libraries:
Pembrokeshire: Haverfordwest, Crymych, Fishguard and Newport, plus three mobile libraries.
Carmarthenshire: Carmarthen and Newcastle Emlyn, plus four mobiles libraries.
Ceredigion: Cardigan, Aberystwyth, plus seven mobile libraries.
The consultation on the draft Badger Control Order ends on 17 December.
