Foot-and-mouth memories still raw

By Nia Thomas BBC Wales Rural Affairs Correspondent

Five years ago, rural Wales came to a standstill as a result of the first foot and mouth outbreak for more than 30 years.

Clouds of thick black smoke and the pungent smell of disinfectant became part and parcel of everyday life.

There was a ban on the movement of animals and livestock markets were closed and so were public foot paths.

Five years on and some of the memories are still very raw.

The first case in Wales was at the Welsh Country Foods abattoir in Gaerwen on Anglesey.

Local vet Meurig Evans contacted the authorities after examining a lame lamb which had travelled from Yorkshire.

"There was part of me which hoped I was wrong because I didn't want foot-and-mouth on my doorstep. But there was also a part of me which hoped I was right because I didn't want to cause a fuss unnecessarily."

They can see my bank statements, foot and mouth was a huge loss to me - I'm still not back where I was before the outbreak Farmer Alun Roberts

It took a couple of days for the case to be confirmed and during that time fears that foot-and-mouth had come to Wales were rising.

Bob Parry, who was president of the Farmers' Union of Wales at the time, was getting off a plane in Brussels when he heard.

He recalls: "There was a phone call asking me whether I knew where the suspect case of foot-and-mouth on Anglesey was. Later on that evening I found out it was in Gaerwen - just a few miles from my home farm."

Within a week there was another case on Anglesey - this time at Bodlew Farm, Llanddaniel.

Alun Roberts had a sick heifer, who was frothing at the mouth.

Foot-and-mouth was confirmed and 300 of his cattle and 900 sheep had to be destroyed.

"I've had a few knocks in my life but my father used to say as long as the problem is outside you're lucky - and of course foot-and-mouth struck outside not inside the house.

"But I knew I had to be an example to others."

Mr Roberts added: "I didn't want anyone saying that I was to blame for the spread of the disease so when it was confirmed I decided we had to slaughter as soon as possible."

FOOT AND MOUTH CRISIS PLAN Main differences if there was another outbreak of foot-and- mouth No mass pyres: Incineration would be the first option although farm pyres could not be ruled out Immediate ban on movement of animals: In 2001 there was a three-day gap between the confirmation of the first case and the ban coming into force Contingency plans to be regularly up-dated: Poor communications and cumbersome decision making process was criticised by independent inquiries following the 2001 outbreak Emergency vaccination to be considered as part of the policy to combat the disease although animals on the infected farm would still have to be culled

Vet Meurig Evans also remembers it was a very busy time.

"We just had to keep going every day from dawn until dusk - in an effort to keep ahead of the disease," he said.

Critics say that some farmers were over-compensated for their losses but Mr Roberts refutes that claim.

"They can see my bank statements. Foot-and-mouth was a huge loss to me - I'm still not back where I was before the outbreak."

His sentiments are echoed by Eurwyn Edwards, director of the Glynllifon agricultural college near Caernarfon.

"What you need to remember is that farmers may have taken 20 or 30 years to build up their dairy herds for example - there is no price on that kind of loss. And it's not only the animals they lost - but their produce for months afterwards."

Mr Roberts did not contemplate the idea of turning his back on farming - but accepts that family and community support carried him through the difficult months.

"I didn't leave the farm for two months during that period. But I'm fortunate that I'm part of a very big family - and I have many good friends. It would have been difficult to pull through without them," he said.