Pregnant heifers culled in East Devon following TB tests
Twenty three heavily pregnant heifers from a closed East Devon organic herd have been culled after testing positive for TB during routine checks. The heifers were part of a 27-strong group belonging to the Clinton Devon Farms Partnership and were all due to give birth to their first calves within a matter of weeks. All […]
Court of Appeal success reinforces value of badger cull injunction
The Court of Appeal’s unanimous dismissal of an animal rights activist’s appeal after he was found in breach of a High Court injunction reinforces the value and importance of the injunction for protecting farmers, the NFU said today. Jay Tiernan, who has been described as the leader of the ‘Stop the Cull’ movement, launched an […]
TB strategy must be implemented immediately to keep farmer support together
The government must implement its 25-year TB eradication strategy immediately and in full to ensure farmer support for it remains strong, NFU President Meurig Raymond has said. Mr Raymond said: “Farmers throughout the country have supported the strategy but are becoming frustrated at the lack of action surrounding the introduction of its various elements. “The […]
Montgomeryshire Farmers question top level politicians
Farming representatives from the Farmers’ Union of Wales Montgomeryshire branch met with top level politicians when they visited Welshpool Livestock Sales on Monday February 16. Members questioned William Hague MP, who recently bought Cyfronydd Hall and was paying a visit to the area, Glyn Davies MP and Russell George AM on a variety of topics […]
NFU lobbying leads to change in cross compliance rules for late bTB tests
NFU lobbying has led to a change in the cross compliance rules for late bTB tests which will see some farmers who had been fined for overdue tests get their money back. Since January 1 2014 failure to complete some types of bTB test within the testing window notified to the farmer by the Animal […]
FUW welcomes private vet involvement in TB testing
The Farmers’ Union of Wales has welcomed deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans’ announcement that private vets will remain at the heart of TB testing procedures in Wales. Two “Delivery Partners” have successfully tendered for TB testing in Wales – Menter a Busnes in North Wales and Iechyd Da (Gwledig) Ltd in South Wales. […]
Testing for Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) is more effective than badger culls at controlling the disease
Modelling produced by researchers at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) has found that the only effective potential Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) control strategies are badger culling, cattle testing, controlling cattle movement, and ceasing the practice of housing farm cattle together during winter. The modelling found that in a region containing about 1.5m cows of which […]
Evidence stacks up against badger cull
Continuing reductions in the rate of bovine TB (bTB) in the south west of England – outside the badger cull zones – have been revealed, alongside a bombshell from Defra’s Chief Scientist who admitted this week that research says only 6% of new bTB outbreaks come directly from badgers. At a TB conference hosted by […]
FUW welcomes retention of TB compensation system
The Farmers’ Union of Wales today welcomed deputy farming and food minister Rebecca Evans’ announcement that Welsh TB compensation rates for compulsorily purchased cattle will continue to use the current valuation system. Earlier this year, the FUW responded to a Welsh Government consultation on TB compensation rates in Wales by vociferously objecting to any move […]
