Website Content

Jump to footer

Farmers withdraw support in protest at Welsh cull delay

EDITOR COMMENT:  A completely one-sided report.
======== 

FARMERS GUARDIAN
29 June 2011 | By Barry Alston

FARMER fury has erupted in Wales over the Welsh Government’s decision to put the planned West Wales bovine TB eradication badger cull on hold.

Yesterday (Tuesday, June 28) environment Minister, John Griffiths, was told by the chairmen of the three Welsh TB regional eradication delivery boards that they were appalled at last week’s statement and would be withdrawing their support.

They say that what made matters worse was the fact that the Minister had not had the courtesy to discuss his proposed review with the panels which were set up as a key element of the £27 million overall eradication programme.

In their letter the three chairmen — highly respected industry figures, Peredur Hughes, a former NFU Cymru president, John Owen, farm manager of the Gelli Aur College farm and a renowned grassland and livestock adviser, and Bob Stevenson, the leading vet who is also president of the British Veterinary Association in Wales.

Their jointly signed letter says:

“As chairs of the three regional TB Eradication Boards we have reflected on and considered your statement to Plenary on the bovine TB eradication programme.

“We are all bitterly disappointed at your decision to look yet again at the science behind the Welsh Government’s TB eradication strategy.

“We all feel deeply despondent at this decision having given freely of our time and energy to work in partnership with Welsh Government to help formulate what we thought was an agreed way forward.

“We have taken the flack locally from farmers frustrated by the persistent tightening up of cattle control measures but have persuaded them to accept and implement these believing that if the farming community played its part in full and did everything within its power to limit the spread of disease then we could see these efforts recognised by the Welsh Government and they would do their part by dealing with the reservoir of infection in wildlife in the Intensive Action Area.

“Finally, we all feel as if we have been entirely by-passed and badly misled and in so being have been misguiding those who have sought and heeded our advice.

“In these circumstances we feel we have no alternative but to withdraw our support as chairs of your respective boards until you have completed the scientific review or are prepared to meet us.

“To have taken this decision without even having the courtesy of listening to our opinion suggests a total disregard for our views.

“We would like to add that we have the full support of all the farmers on all three Boards.”

Speaking at last night’s (Tuesday, June 28) British Veterinary Association annual Welsh dinner in Cardiff — attended by John Griffiths – BVA president, Harvey Locke said vets had commended the brave decision taken by the last Welsh administration to go ahead with a Government-led badger cull in the Intensive Action Area.

“We also responded positively to the plans to deal with the increasing problem of the disease in non-bovines.

“It will be no surprise then that the BVA was extremely disappointed by the announcement of a delay in implementing the Badger Order while another review of the scientific evidence is carried out.

“As veterinary scientists we are fully committed to science-based policy, but we believe that work has already been done,” said Mr Locke.

“We are concerned that further delay to the implementation of a targeted cull will simply result in further devastation to Welsh herds.

“We do, however, acknowledge your stated desire that the review be completed within a short timeframe and we appreciate your commitment to that.

“We are also very keen to see a strong veterinary representation on the review panel and in the meantime I urge farmers in the affected areas to continue working to their comprehensive bio-security plans to protect their herds from the disease.

“Success in the battle with bTB will only be achieved if the Government, industry and vets work together.”

Readers' comment:

mechanical mike | 29 June 2011 0:36 am

Gentlemen your political masters have been bought & paid for... doubtless animal rights parties shovelled money into whichever political party & they are now having to honour those agreements. you have been shafted yet again

Past News

brianmay.com
Bookmark and Share