Farmers fume over bull

Farmers across Wales have voiced outrage that "sacred" bull Shambo has been given a reprieve when thousands of their cattle, which have tested positive for TB, have been sacrificed.

Dai Davies, National Farmers' Union Cymru president, said the High Court decision to quash an order to destroy the bullock kept by Hindu monks in West Wales was "a kick in the teeth".

And Montgomeryshire farmer and AM Mick Bates said it would have serious repercussions in the industry.

Mr Davies said: "There are two grounds for major concern. The first is this decision is an absolute kick in the teeth for all those farmers who have had animals destroyed as part of the bovine TB controls, animals that have often taken generations of careful selective breed improvement to produce.

"We should remember the sanctity of life is equally important to all human beings and to allow this bullock to live with all the attendant risks to bovine and animal health in general is astounding.

"The second is the judge's view 'the Assembly Government has adopted the wrong approach in this case'. I find this astounding and the Assembly must immediately examine this finding."

Mr Bates said the decision by High Court Judge Mr Justice Hickinbottom yesterday to quash a Welsh Assembly Government decision that Shambo should be slaughtered was a blow to every farmer in Wales.

He said:"This decision will have serious repercussions on the industry.

"The farming industry is already reaching crisis point because of bovine TB. To allow decisions like this allows the crisis to get worse."