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08 - April - 2008UNION COMMENDS MINISTER FOR GRASPING TB NETTLE

NFU Cymru has commended the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones and the One Wales Government for, this afternoon, grasping the nettle and having the courage of its convictions in proposing to implement a cull of infected badgers in an intensive action pilot area to deal with Bovine Tuberculosis in the round.

Dai Davies, President NFU Cymru said, “We cannot continue to bury our heads in the sand and ignore the ever increasing raft of scientific evidence which points to both cattle and badgers being involved in the transmission of bTB.  Despite the measures already taken and aimed at containing the disease in cattle there has been a 750% rise in the number of cattle slaughtered last year compared to a decade ago. It is evident that unless a holistic approach is taken to deal with the disease in both cattle and infected wildlife bTB will continue to wreak havoc in the countryside and its unremitting spread will continue. 

“This is a classic example of the need to endure short term pain for long term gain, no one who is concerned for animal or indeed human health and welfare can sit back and allow the relentless march of this disease in the countryside.  The Assembly Government, the farming industry and wildlife interests have to work together to rid us of this scourge. 

“It would be foolish to think that this will happen overnight, the disease is now endemic in both cattle and badgers and in the same way there has been an insidious but steady growth in this disease over a long period of time, it will take time to halt and reverse this trend. 

“I am however confident that a joined up approach with measures to deal with disease in both cattle and wildlife populations is the way forward, and will in the longer term see the demise of this cruel disease.”                                                                   

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