24/4/2006

A Welsh Assembly prediction that it wold take a year to collect 400 dead badgers for TB testing looks like being wrong - 323 of the animals had been reported by the end of March, says Glyn Daies, Welsh Conservative AM for Mid and West Wales

Mr Davies welcomed the public's response for 400 dead badgers to be reported so that the pattern of Bovine TB in badgers in Wales can be accurately assessed.

Since the Government's call Glyn Davies has been encouraging farmers to report any dead badgers immediately so that the required 400 figure will be reached as soon as possible.

"Since the Assembly Government announced that 400 dead badgers would have to be tested for the presence of Bovine TB, I have been encouraging farmers all over Wales to report any road kills immediately," he said.

"The Assembly Government predicted it would take 12 months to reach 400 - but it is obvious that the target will be reached much more quickly. The policy of encouraging reporting of road kills has been very successful and by the end of March 323 had been reported.

"I hope the Assembly Government will now quickly establish the relationship between Bovine TB and badgers - and quickly develop a policy to tackle the disease. Bovine TB is causing devastation to the cattle herds of Wales and to the lives of many farming families. The disease is running out of control. The quick response by the public has removed one of the reasons for lack of Government action."