Bovine TB has decimated Wales' second-largest herd of llama near Whitland, killing half the animals.

Cattle are routinely tested for the disease but that's not the case for llama - and breeders are not compensated for their full market value.

The absence of a test meant that bovine TB was not picked up in Liz Ford's herd of 25 llama at Bower Farm. Half are now dead.

"They succumbed very quickly," said Mrs Ford.

"They became very weak and ill and developed a severe cough."

If a compulsory test had been in place, the disease would have been picked up sooner and some could have been saved.

"It is very difficult when animals are sick and there are no rules on how to deal with it," said Mrs Ford.

Livestock farmers who lose animals to bovine TB are compensated for their replacement value but no such payment structure exists for llama breeders.

Mrs Ford has received what was termed as an ex gratia' payment, which was equivalent to a third of what each animal is worth.

She says the Welsh Assembly only agreed to test her herd after she signed a document accepting this level of payment.

The llama are her only source of income from the farm, which she runs with her husband, Dr John Mitchiner.

"The llama are the only way we can keep our farm even approaching break-even," she said.

"The ex gratia payment is inadequate."

Mrs Ford has been breeding llama for the last ten years.

The Assembly is now testing the herd but, unlike the 60-day gap between tests in cattle, these tests will only be done every 90 days. Mrs Ford says this is too long and has caused huge management problems.

The Assembly admits there is currently no legislation for testing llama for bovine TB.