The threat of bluetongue breaking out in Wales is higher than ever before, a farming chief from Powys has claimed, following confirmation that six cattle near the Welsh border had tested positive for the disease.

Gareth Vaughan, Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) president, from Dolfor, near Newtown, said the threat of the cattle disease breaking out in the country has never been so high.

Mr Vaughan said: “This is a deeply concerning development and we also understand that five animals imported from the Continent are currently being tested on a number of holdings in North Wales.”

He was speaking at the World Sheepdog Trials in Llandeilo, after Defra revealed six cattle imported from the Continent to Bromyard, near Worcester, just 25 miles from the Welsh border, had tested positive for bluetongue.

This brings the total number of UK holdings with confirmed outbreaks to 145.

Mr Vaughan said: “As the BTV8 strain is now endemic on much of the Continent, and BTV1 and other strains are present in large areas in southern Europe, this represents a significant risk for Wales.

“I once again urge farmers to vaccinate their animals because this is the only insurance against avoiding the catastrophic effects that can affect livestock.”

Mr Vaughan further warned of the dangers of listening to gossip and rumours about the vaccine.

“The manufacturing process for BTV8 vaccine is essentially identical to the process used to make BTV2 and BTV4 vaccine in the past four years,” he said.