Animal restrictions eased further

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Foot-and-mouth restrictions in Wales will be further eased from midnight to let animals be moved from farm to farm.

A ban on livestock markets and shows remains, but it is hoped sheep farmers moving stock from upland to lowland farms will benefit from the decision.

The National Farmers' Union welcomed it but said farmers were "struggling".

Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones's announcement came on the day when Europe's largest ram sale at Llanelwedd, Powys, was postponed.

"I've taken the decision to allow farm-to-farm direct movements of animals within Wales," Ms Jones said.

"We believe it is now appropriate, in terms of the risk assessment we've undertaken, to allow that that kind of movement.

The industry is currently in a paralysis and simply cannot cope any longer with the constraints upon it Dai Davies, NFU Cymru

"Hopefully it will ease the considerable managerial pressure farmers were under in terms of moving livestock to areas where there was sufficient grazing for them to be fed," she added.

There are strict conditions to be met, including a 20-day standstill to all movements off the farm including animals going direct to slaughter, red meat markets and collection centres.

Dai Davies, president of NFU Cymru, said: "The lifting of restrictions on farm-to farm movements is a step in the right direction.

"It is hoped that this is the first, but significant, signal of some further freeing up of movement restrictions.

Breeds

"It represents a step, in what may be a marathon, back to normality," he said.

"The industry is currently in a paralysis and simply cannot cope any longer with the constraints upon it. "

He said re-opening livestock markets, again in line with veterinary advice, remained one of the union's goals.

The National Sheep Association (NSA), which organises the Llanelwedd ram auction, said it was the second time in six weeks it had been forced to cancel a sale.

The organisation hopes to re-schedule the event at the Royal Welsh showground in October.

Nearly £2m changes hands during the sale and 7,500 animals from 40 different breeds are traded.