This important message was given by NFU Cymru Livestock Board Chairman Rob Lewis during the latest NFU Cymru Brecon & Radnor County Meeting held at the Royal Welsh Showground on Monday 28 April. The warning comes amid multiple disease risks at home and abroad threatening the Welsh livestock industry.
Priority
Speaking at the meeting, Rob Lewis, who farms with his family near Rhayader, highlighted the need for biosecurity to be a priority. He encouraged farmers to speak with their vets and review biosecurity protocols to minimise risk.
“The advice is to act now and speak to your vet to ensure you’re doing the best for your farm. Please be aware that any visitors to your farm should be disinfecting, whether it be farm workers, neighbours, vets or inspectors. Everyone should be practising and adhering to good biosecurity measures - we all need to do our bit and set a good example,” said Mr Lewis.
Key disease risks
Members were also updated on key disease risks. NFU Cymru Deputy President Abi Reader urged members to carry out their herd’s annual BVD screening test before the Tuesday 1 July deadline and encouraged farmers to speak with their vets to conduct the BVD test alongside their TB testing, where possible. She also alerted members that while Wales hasn’t seen a case of Avian Influenza this winter the country remained in an Avian Influenza Protection Zone (AIPZ) as a result of the high risk of disease incursion. Abi commented on the hard work the poultry industry had undertaken to implement mitigation measures and the need to continue with stringent biosecurity measures on farm. With the warmer weather now upon us, members were also warned of the growing threat of Bluetongue in Wales and to remain vigilant for any signs of the disease.
Lobbying
Members were also told about NFU Cymru’s work lobbying UK Government for tighter border controls following Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks in Germany, Slovakia and Hungary.
Abi also updated members on a number of broader farming issues. She discussed the continued work of lobbying Welsh MPs following the UK Government’s proposed inheritance tax changes and informed members the union continued to engage regularly with Welsh Government in regard to the Sustainable Farming Scheme.
Brecon & Radnor County Chair, Rob Powell thanked everyone for attending the meeting: “It is fantastic to see a good turnout here and I’d like to thank Abi Reader for joining us at this meeting. To reiterate the main message; we must lead by example with biosecurity and be sure to set a precedent for others to follow.”