Burial ban hits county's hunts (From Western Telegraph)

Burial ban hits county's hunts

Pembrokeshire's two hunts are preparing for an upsurge in fallen stock as the on-farm burial ban enters its second week.

The kennels of the South Pembrokeshire Hunt at Cresselly and the Pembrokeshire Hunt near Haverfordwest, are expecting a big increase in carcasses from farmers now the May 1st ban has been imposed.

It couldn't have come at a worse time for the South Pembrokeshire Hunt. It has been ordered by Pembrokeshire County Council to upgrade its incinerator, an investment of £10,000 which the hunt says it cannot afford. The council has served an enforcement notice banning the use of the existing incinerator but the Hunt has appealed. It only installed the incinerator eight months ago but it is already regarded as out-dated.

The Government has ruled that low-capacity incinerators must not be used for the disposal of bovine and ovine specified risk materials (SRM). James Andrews, joint Master of the South Pembrokeshire Hunt, recognises that the burial ban will almost certainly lead to an increase in the quantity of carcasses the Hunt will have to deal with.

He admitted it could be a problem but said the Hunt would not turn farmers away.

"We will continue to provide a service for fallen stock for farmers in south Pembrokeshire for allowing us to hunt on their land,'' said Mr Andrews. "The burial ban is bound to lead to more stock coming our way which we will have to dispose of. The authorities want us to upgrade our facilities to those of knacker men but we can't afford that kind of investment.''

The burial ban came into operation last Thursday but it will be three months before the National Carcass Collection Scheme will be up and running.

Farmers who sign up to the scheme will pay between £50 and £200 a year depending on their size.