NSA Cymru Annual Meeting hears of importance of keeping the UK flock safe

National biosecurity has to be taken very seriously as there are several diseases on mainland Europe and beyond that pose a major risk to the Welsh sheep industry, attendees at the National Sheep Association (NSA) Wales/Cymru Annual Meeting were told last week.

Interim Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Gavin Watkins, addressed a meeting distinguished by the level of audience engagement, as well as the quality of presentations. The enthusiasm shown by NSA Next Generation Ambassador Michael Burley for the NSA’s scheme for younger sheep farmers and the industry contributed to the high standard of discussion among members.

Dr Watkins warned that exports of sheep meat, wool and skins depended on maintaining Wales and UK’s high health status and keeping serious diseases out of our national flock.

He said: “I don’t think we’ve ever been in a situation where we’ve been facing such important threats of diseases from outside Great Britain (GB) and I think this has been ramping up year on year and getting worse and worse.

“So, we have to take our national biosecurity very seriously. It’s not just an academic threat, it’s quite real.” 

He explained that the situation has changed since Brexit and it is now important that we have a GB imports policy that both facilitates trade and ensures that serious diseases are kept out. UK Governments are prioritising national biosecurity. Bluetongue had been declining in Europe, but it is still in France. He advised keepers to be extremely cautious when purchasing animals from abroad and to take veterinary advice on disease risks if they do so. 

Other diseases include sheep pox in Spain, so sheep cannot be imported from parts of Spain at the moment. He warned that such a disease would cause huge damage to our sheep industry, and make exports impossible. It would also involve disease eradication measures internally. Vigilance and biosecurity are key.

Foot and Mouth Disease is still in North Africa and the Middle East, he explained. It required constant vigilance to keep the really infectious disease out of Europe. Pest de Petits Ruminant, the sheep and goat form of Rinderpest, was another very nasty disease now in Morocco and getting close to Europe.

Dr Watkins told of his excitement over the Welsh Government’s launch of a £4.5 million three year project to support farmers’ efforts to eradicate Sheep Scab, delivered by Coleg Sir Gar. He commented that it is a great opportunity for all involved in the sheep sector – farmers, auctioneers, hauliers and contractors to work together to drive scab out of the Welsh flock.  Longer term funding could not be guaranteed.

And he outlined the implications of the Welsh Government Sustainable Farming Scheme proposals for 2025. The goal in terms of sheep health and welfare was to encourage and reward farmers to raise standards, comprising: the Animal Health Improvement Cycle (AHIC), biosecurity and good (rather than acceptable) animal welfare.

Ahead of Dr Watkins’ talk, NSA Next Generation Ambassador, 27 year old, Michael Burley, gave an inspirational address outlining his ambition. He is a young man coming from a non farming background and wants to be first generation farmer.

Michael explained: “Coming back to getting the younger generation involved, it’s finding bosses and employers who will give you the opportunities and the responsibility to be trusted.

“But also to take you to one side, to help you and you learn that way. There are loads of people like myself who want to get involved in the industry, it’s having the opportunity to do it and I’m very fortunate that I have.”

Michael now shepherds on a mixed 1,000 acre hill farm in the Rhondda Valley, South Wales, where he runs 150 of his own pure bred Welsh Mountain ewes along with the 750 owned by his ‘very supportive’ boss. The system is low input, low cost and very effective.

NSA Cymru / Wales Regional Chair Kate Hovers said the high spot of a very good day had been listening to an inspiring young shepherd who had benefited from the NSA Next Generation Scheme. “Michael Burley had been full of enthusiasm and ambition,” Kate said.

She added: “Also there was the fact that there was so much engagement from the audience. Everybody had points to make and questions to ask. It was a very engaged meeting.”