FARMER'S £18,000 BILL TO MOVE SHEEP JUST FIVE MILES AMID BLUETONGUE 'CHAOS'

WELSH Government restrictions on farmers are causing 'total chaos and havoc' with one farmer reportedly given an £18,000 bill to move his sheep just five miles across the border from England.

- By CHRIS HAINES and RUTH MOSALSKI

Bluetongue is a viral disease which is spread by biting midges, and affects sheep, cattle, goats and deer, llama and alpaca.

It is circulating in England and Wales. Rarely, it can affect dogs and other carnivores but it does not affect humans and poses no risk to public health or food safety.

The Welsh Government last week said was introducing limits on moving livestock and that from June 20, 2025 any susceptible animals, including cattle, sheep, goats, deer, llamas and alpacas moving from a bluetongue restricted zone to Wales to live, will require a specific movement licence and testing before moving.

If an animal is showing clinical signs on the day of transport they cannot move to Wales. The meas ures will be in place until July 1, 2025, Welsh Government said.

Wales' rural affairs minister Huw Irranca-Davies said when the changes were made it was not "feasible or realistic that we can keep the disease out forever. At the same time, I cannot in all conscience invite bluetongue into Wales.

"I am unwilling to risk the uncer tain impact of the disease in live stock-dense areas like the Welsh borders. I am also extremely con cerned about the economic and farmer wellbeing impacts of dealing with sick animals, and the livestock productivity and fertility losses associated with severe bluetongue, as observed in many affected Euro pean countries.