Cull is the answer, unions admit

Whole flocks are being threatened by the cull

Farmers leaders have accepted that the mass slaughter of livestock ordered by the government is the only way to prevent the further spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

Bob Parry, president of the Farmers' Union of Wales, had demanded to see the scientific evidence which had persuaded the Ministry of Agriculture to order the cull.

The mass cull will have a devastating impact on all the farmers involved, but there appears to be no other way to stop foot-and-mouth

FUW president Bob Parry

But, despite earlier scepticism, Mr Parry said on Saturday that he - like his counterparts in the National Farmers' Union of Wales - now believed there was no other alternative.

"I am satisfied that the only scientific way to halt this dreadful disease is to take the action ordered by the government," he said.

His change of opinon comes as the government comes under increasing pressure elsewhere in the UK to abandon plans for a mass cull in areas worst hit by the disease.

The slaughter of up to 300,000 pigs and sheep kept close to infected areas in Cumbria and Dumfries and Galloway has been condemned by farmers and the RSPCA.

Some farmers in Wales have threatened to use guns to stop Ministry of Agriculture setting foot on their land.

Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has promised that the cull of healthy animals will not go ahead until the government's chief vet has visited farmers to explain why it was necessary.

Signs like this are becoming all too familiar

The FUW president was given his assurances during a meeting with Welsh Assembly Agriculture Minister Carwyn Jones.

"The mass cull will have a devastating impact on all the farmers involved, but there appears to be no other way to stop foot-and-mouth," Mr Parry said.

"I have been assured that the government is acting solely on the best scientific advice available.

"As farmers, we must accept the scientific facts of the case and I urge all farmers to fully co-operate with assembly and Ministry of Agriculture officials to bring a speedy end to this outbreak."

All farmers who bought sheep at Welshpool Livestock Market on February 19 have been told that those sheep - together with any sheep they may have had contact with - will have to be slaughtered to halt the further spread of the disease.

Farmers in Wales whose livelihoods are at risk are becoming increasingly concerned.

By Friday night, the total of confirmed cases in Wales had reached 20 - including one at a farm adjacent to the prestigious Royal Welsh Showground.