Shambo herd tests 'inconclusive'

Shambo tested positive for bovine TB in April

The results of TB re-tests on five animals from the temple that housed Shambo the "sacred" bullock, have come back "inconclusive", officials said.

The animals from the Skanda Vale Temple in Carmarthenshire, have been isolated from the herd and will be re-tested.

The community fears the assembly government will issue slaughter notices on two more cattle from the herd which are currently classed as "reactors".

Shambo was put down after becoming the focus of worldwide attention.

It tested positive for bovine TB in April and further tests after Shambo's slaughter on 26 July showed that the bullock had lesions typical of TB.

The five "inconclusive" test results issued on Tuesday were from samples taken by officials from more animals at Skanda Vale, Llanpumsaint after Shambo's slaughter.

According to Brother Simon from Skanda Vale, the entire herd would have been given the all clear under "standard" criteria.

Lungs

But he believed the five came back as inconclusive because the tests were carried out under what is known as the "severe" interpretation, which was brought in when lesions were found on Shambo's lungs.

The monk also said a Jersey bullock and a water buffalo which had tested inconclusive before Shambo's slaughter were now categorised as "reactors" in the wake of the bullock's positive test.

The monks want the animals re-tested because of the "huge potential for human error" but say the assembly government has refused.

A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly Government said they were aware of the monks' request for the re-tests and would be "responding to the community shortly".

Brother Simon said that if they were issued with a slaughter notice without a re-test it would be an "outrage".

Antibiotics

The multi-faith community believes in the sanctity of life and is against slaughter.

They think the animals can be cured if they are isolated and given a course of antibiotics.

But farming unions supported the slaughter of Shambo because they believed it could pose a health risk to human and animal health.

The Skanda Vale community has a wide range of livestock, including an elephant, ponies, water buffalo, cows and bulls, llama and deer.

Earlier this week, Tory Rural Affairs spokesman Brynle Williams demanded the slaughter of any other animals at the temple that tested positive for TB.