Livestock farmers from all over West Wales were present at a highly significant meeting held on Monday evening to examine all aspects of the present bovine TB crisis.
The meeting was chaired by the Member of the Welsh Assembly Government representing Preseli Pembrokeshire, Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey, and the speakers included local dairy farmer, Dai Davies, vice-president of the National Farmers Union in Wales, together with Pat Murray and Michael Flinn, chair of the Irish Farmers Association animal health committees for Wexford and Galway, respectively.
The meeting, held at The Forge, St. Clears, was organised by Allana Perkins, of AgriNet (pictured centre).
Mr. Davies explained that the south-west of Britain with its moist climate, mild winters and plentiful supplies of grass appeared the ideal situation in which TB thrives.
He also confirmed that this present level of infection, and re-infecting, could not be allowed to continue and the other speakers explained the measures which had been taken in Ireland which were proving highly effective.
These included an 80 per cent cull of badgers in hot spot areas, starting in a wide circle and working inwards. Also, steps had been taken to prevent badgers using cattle drinking vessels and feeding troughs.
Mrs. Dunwoody-Kneafsey fully accepted that having this problem on a holding, with its resultant standstill orders and major loss of income, was not only very stressful for the farmer, but also for family members and staff.
She would, she said, be reporting back to her department at the Assembly as a matter of the gravest urgency.