Concern at cattle disease.

A LEADING farmer and union member has warned more must be done to protect the Welsh farming industry from imported diseases that devastate foreign herds.

Chairman of the FUW Milk and Dairy Produce committee Eifion Huws said Johne's disease was a potential problem for UK farmers - blaming imports for an increased prevalence of the disease.

He called for greater screening of cattle before they are imported into the country.

He said: "Johne's disease is of particular concern. This is a major problem in countries like Germany, Holland and Denmark and we do not want to import that problem here.

"If this was the other way around they would be asking for our cattle to be banned, we are not asking for that but we are asking for full screening and greater checks before the cattle are allowed into the UK.

"This is of increasing concern which is highlighted by the fact that Dairy Co are holding a conference on this topic in December.

"We have been shouting about this and maybe now people are listening."

Johne''s disease is a chronic enteritis of ruminants caused by the aerobic bacterium Mycobacterium johnei.

The disease is widely distributed and causes substantial economic losses through death and loss of productivity during the prolonged preclinical stage.