Cattle TB outbreak hits valley

A valley on the Shropshire/Powys border is suffering from an outbreak of tuberculosis among cattle, it emerged today.

The chairman of Oswestry National Farmers Union Malcolm Roberts has revealed the disease is raging in the Tanat Valley.

Farmer Eifion Williams says one of a dozen in the Llangedwyn area now stopped from moving cattle from their farms.

Nationally the number of cases of bovine tuberculosis has been steadily increasing with hot spots where there are pockets of several cases.

Farmers blame the disease on wildlife but a proposed cull of badgers has proved controversial.

Mr Roberts said there was currently a worrying hot spot in the Tanat Valley. The plight of the valley was highlighted to national NFU president Peter Kendall when he visited farms before attending Oswestry NFU's annual meeting this week.

"Mr Kendall has promises to press the minister for Defra, David Milliband, to find a compromise to deal with the outbreaks that will satisfy both public concern and the agricultural industry," he said.

"Outbreaks of TB can have a devastating effect of farmers' lives and their livelihood."

Mr Williams, who with his wife, Del, farms at Llangedwyn, has had TB diagnosed within his pedigree herd and can not move animals from the farm until he has two clear tests 60 days apart.

"It is devastating and it will be a long, long process to sort this out."