The Tanat Valley, near Oswestry, has become a hotspot for TB outbreaks, with more than a dozen farms seeing animal movements halted because of the disease.

Rob Edwards, from Cain Vets in Llansanttfraid, said today the disease was taking its toll not only on the agricultural community but on members of the veterinary profession.

“It is affecting farmers. They have had such a lot to deal with recently and for many of the small farms this could be the nail in the coffin that drives them out of beef,” he said.

“It is also taking its toll on the veterinary world. We have had to take on two extra vets. Although very important, bovine TB testing is very time consuming and not as interesting as other, clinical work.

“I believe undergraduates are opting for small animal instead of farm animal practices because of testing.”

One of the farmers having to cope with a TB outbreak on his farm is Mr Eifion Williams. Mr Williams and his wife Del are now having to rethink their farming enterprise. A dozen cattle on their farm in the Tanat Valley, are being slaughtered.

Cattle movements have also been halted until their herd of 240 Limousin pure-bred cattle is clear of the disease.

It is one of between 12 and 14 farms in a TB hotspot in the valley now having to cope with the problems that the outbreak has brought.

Source: shropshirestar.co.uk