APRIL 8, 2008: Bovine TB is out of control in Wales, according to Dr Christianne Glossop, the chief Welsh veterinary surgeon.
In the first year of an eradication programme, to which £27m hasbeen allocated over the next four years, and to get a clear picture ofthe extent of the problem, the Welsh assembly is to carry out a one-off test in every cattle herd in Wales.
This will mean testing around 400,000 cattle on the 35% of farms not scheduled to be routinely tested. Efforts will also be made to speed up the removal of reactors.
Legal authority will also be sought to allow badgers to be culled ina pilot area where TB is a serious problem that cannot be linked topoor bio-security or movements of cattle or people.
