btb

Senedd proceeded to debate and vote down two motions on policies relating to the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) and bovine TB.

The Cornock family from Pembrokeshire said the impact of TB on the farm has become 'much worse' since being put under severe interpretation testing. Their hard has dropped significantly from 338 to 243

This week's letters from FG readers

UK's Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Christine Middlemiss said there was not any evidence to demonstrate it was a ‘circulating virus', with all the infections being incursion of infected midges

Dr Richard Irvine, who started the role in March 2023, said an expected assessment of the bTB target next year will serve as a ‘formal checkpoint' and an opportunity to ‘take stock' on the issue

Dairy farmer Susie Mottershead said Joyce Watson's MS comments that dairy farmers with chronic TB should find another business was a kick in the teeth. "Never have I felt the mental health of farmers be so completely disregarded. We are that chronic bTB farm," she said

Ulster Farmers' Union president said the decision was a 'major blow' for livestock farmers, adding farming families have been on their knees due to this disease for generations

With voters expected to go the polls in around 12 months' time, livestock farmers told Farmers Guardian future policy on controlling bTB should not be part of ‘the political debate to be used as a vote winner'

Farmers need to plan their cattle buying policy carefully to help keep Scotland free of bovine TB, with an increasing demand from farmers in England for Scottish breeding stock.