Farmers urged not to import

Farmers in Wales have been urged to stop and think before importing livestock from other countries in Europe because of the danger of disease.

Farmer and auctioneer Glyn Owens, a director of Ruthin Farmers Auction, made his appeal after praising the quality of show livestock as he officially opened this year's Royal Welsh Winter Fair yesterday.

He said one of the main objectives of the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society when it inaugurated the two-day winter event 19 years ago was to better the quality of livestock.

"When I walked through the sheds this morning I can tell you the quality is getting better and better and better, so that objective of the society is certainly working," he said.But Mr Owens said another objective had been to tackle disease.

He said: "We have had bad problems and still have with bovine tuberculosis (TB) in certain parts of Wales, but I am glad to see the Assembly is doing something about it.

"I do hope culling of the small creatures that are possibly carrying it still will be carried out and we will eradicate TB."

Mr Owens said that foot and mouth had been a disaster last year and bluetongue disease had been a severe problem this year.

He said: "Because of the existence of animal diseases in many parts of Europe we have a responsibility as individuals when deciding to import stock and I would encourage everyone to think carefully because your actions could ruin our industry and events like the Winter Fair."

By lunchtime yesterday Haydn Jones, show press officer, said he thought visitor numbers at the ground, near Builth Wells, were in line for near record-breaking levels.

"It looks very promising," he said. "The weather's been good today although icy road conditions have kept some people away.

"A coach load of children from Newcastle Emlyn were due to compete here today but couldn't get here because of the weather."