Disease hits Beacons flocks

Thousands of sheep roaming on the Brecon Beacons face a mass cull after the confirmation of positive blood test results for foot-and-mouth.

Welsh Assembly Rural Affairs Minister said 4,000 sheep that had undergone initial tests would be slaughtered.

Sheep take three weeks to show signs of the disease

It is the first time in Wales that free roaming animals have tested positive.

A further 6,000 animals are due to be tested as part of a Defra screening programme of upland sheep in the Beacons.

The government has been warned the tests could spell disaster for the already hard-pressed rural economy in mid Wales.

NFU Cymru president Hugh Richards said that hill farming in the region could be "wiped out".

Veterinary officials have been testing for the full-blown virus and foot-and-mouth antibodies.

Crisis in Wales

Total confirmed cases UK-wide 1,752 - with 108 in Wales

Powys - 68 cases

Anglesey - 13 cases

Monmouthshire - 20 cases

Caerphilly 1

Rhondda Cynon Taff - 1

Neath Port Talbot -1

Newport - 3

The bad news was delivered to graziers at an urgent meeting at the Brecon army barracks on Wednesday afternoon.

Glyn Powell, vice president of the Farmers' Union of Wales, said up to 40,000 sheep grazed in the vicinity of the testing and as many as 100,000 animals could be affected.

Meanwhile, Wales's 108th case of foot-and-mouth was confirmed at a farm 20 miles away at Llanellen, near Abergavenny, south east Wales.

The assembly is due to announce details on Thursday of a £60m rural recovery package for the worst hit areas of Wales.

Mr Jones said that test results received for sheep in five areas of the Beacons had shown a significant number of positive results.

Carwyn Jones AM: Priority for graziers

"Unfortunately, this means that these sheep will have to be slaughtered in order to prevent further spread of foot and mouth disease in the area," said Mr Jones.

"We have been in discussion with the graziers this afternoon to explain the position.

"We are also in discussion with Defra veterinary staff in London about the next stages to satisfy ourselves that the Beacons are free from FMD."

The minister added: "We are well aware that the loss of these hefted flocks will have serious environmental consequences for the Brecon Beacons.

Beleagured farmers

"For that reason we are already in discussions with the European Commission about the special support which will need to be made available to encourage the re-introduction of sheep onto the areas of the Brecon Beacons."

Mr Jones said that support for the beleagured Beacons farmers would be carefully tailored to ensure that re-stocking successfully re-established hefted flocks.

The minister said the initiative would start from a low base and gradually build up new flocks, which would be hefted in the same way as their predecessors.

"The opportunity will also be taken to ensure that eventual stocking densities are contained at a level which promotes environmental benefits and avoids any problems of overgrazing," he said.