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Cattle pre-movement test changes in Wales
cows
Cattle will be required to have a pre-movement test before they can be transported to or from their main holding.
Reminder on new arrangements from October 1

The Welsh government is reminding farmers in Wales that from tomorrow, Wednesday, October 1, cattle will be required to have a pre-movement test before they can be transported to or from their main holding as part of bovine TB control measures.

Deputy minister for farming and food, Rebecca Evans, reminded farmers that cattle moving within sole occupancy authorities (SOAs) will not have an automatic pre-movement testing (PrM) exemption.  However, an interim land association management (ILAM) arrangement has been established to help manage cattle movements between parcels of land that fall within an existing SOA.

An ILAM agreement allows herd keepers to move their animals without a PrM Test providing certain criteria are met and that the movements are within 10 miles of the main holding.

Rebecca Evans said; "Our comprehensive eradication programme, which has now been in place for more than five years, is based on solid evidence and includes annual testing of cattle, strict bio-security measures and movement control.

"The latest figures, that show the situation to the end of June this year, reveal the measures we have put in place have worked together to produce a 27 per cent decline in the number of cattle slaughtered in Wales as a result of bovine TB compared to the previous year.

"In addition, for the February to June 2014 period, the figures reveal that new incidents of the disease were at their lowest level since 2008.

"Since last November we have not been accepting new SOA applications. By ending automatic pre movement test exemptions within SOAs we are further reducing the risk of TB spreading across Wales by limiting the movement of untested cattle between two pieces of land that could be many miles apart.

"That kind of movement represents an unacceptable disease risk, which these new changes now deals with."

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

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News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.