Herd decimated by TB outbreak (From Western Telegraph)

Herd decimated by TB outbreak

A FARMER who has spent more than 30 years establishing a closed pedigree milking herd lost 46 of his finest animals last Wednesday, because of bovine TB.

Vaughan Jenkins, of Stember Farm, Poyston Cross, has not bought in an animal since he established the 'Ember' herd, but tests have picked up traces of TB in a sixth of his entire stock, including beef cattle and a stock bull.

Five animals were culled after the initial test in January. Mr Jenkins was offered an alternative gamma interferon test and this picked up traces of the disease in a further 46.

Mr Jenkins, the fifth generation of his family to farm at Stember, is devastated. "I just feel numb. We have put so much into building up this herd,'' he said.

The 110-cow dairy herd is pure British friesian and Mr Jenkins said he would find it difficult to source replacements.

He is reluctant to replace the culled stock, because of concern that it could bring in more disease. This will have implications for the business he runs with his wife and two of their children, William and Myfanwy.

With a significantly reduced milking herd, their income from milk production will struggle to sustain the business.

Mr Jenkins has spoken out because he says the problem is out of control and that too little is being done by DEFRA and the National Assembly to find solutions.

"We have been told that last year there were 358 cases of TB in Pembrokeshire, Ceredi-gion and Carmarthenshire. When the man from the ministry came here last month he told us there had already been 110 cases. How does that bode for the next 12 months?'' said Mr Jenkins.

"At least four of the farms around us have TB. It is decimating the national herd; it is out of our hands. Nothing is being done to bring it under control.''