TB blow for pedigree Welsh Black herd (From Western Telegraph)

TB blow for pedigree Welsh Black herd

Bovine tuberculosis has wiped out 50 Welsh Black suckler cows and calves from one of Pembrokeshire's premier herds.

The stock, nearly a third of a pedigree herd belonging to Gareth and Diane James, of Bernards Well Isaf, Tufton, were slaughtered after they reacted positively to a TB test.

The cull has decimated a herd which includes Britain's 2002 reserve champion male and female Welsh Black.

The agony of losing stock the couple had reared from birth was intensified when three of the younger animals had to be slaughtered on the farm because neither Llanelli nor Cardigan abattoir were licensed to deal with them. These slaughterhouses are only registered to cull cattle over 30-months-old.

The Syfni herd had passed a routine test last April but at the end of September lesions were discovered in a barren cow sent to Cardigan abattoir for slaughter.

A further test revealed 41 reactors and three inconclusive tests. All 44 have been culled, together with six calves which had suckled from infected cows.

The herd will be re-tested next month and the James' are preparing themselves for the worst. "The vet has said that he would be very surprised if we didn't get more reactors. We could end up losing the whole herd,'' Mr James said.

Pedigree stock which had competed at shows, including the Royal, Royal Welsh and Pembrokeshire County, this year were found to be clear of the disease.

"This was quite a relief because we would have had to consider the possibility that they could have picked up TB at the shows,'' said Mr James.

"The herd was in prime condition when a vet broke the news. "He commented on how well they were looking. They had had a good growing season and when they were valued for compensation the valuer was quite shocked to see them looking so well. It really hurts to see stock destroyed when outwardly they appear to be in outstanding health.''

Mr and Mrs James have reared Welsh Black sucklers at Bernards Well Isaf for 13 years and have created a championship herd regarded as one of the finest in Britain.

It was registered as a pedigree herd five years ago. "We were just starting to see some of our own stock coming through for showing and selling. This has really pulled the carpet out from under our feet,'' admitted Mr James.

He is upset that he not only lost the cattle but had to witness three destroyed on his farm.

"The abattoirs are registered to deal with older cattle that are not for human consumption. It doesn't make any sense to bar stock which is also destined for the incinerator,'' said Mr James.

CAPTION

TB breakdown: Gareth and Diane James with some of their surviving stock. PICTURE: Western Telegraph.