Wales Farmer February 2013 NEWS ■ Dairy farmer speaks of fears afteroutbreak claims 40 cattle


Living in shadow of TB “


The Welsh Government really needs to take further action to control the badger


population and eradicate bovine TB if they want to see family farms survive in the future


By Farmer reporter


ADAIRY farmer produc- ing high quality milk for cheese and ice cream production has spoken out about the constant struggle of living in fear of


bovine TB. Tony Hack, whose roots lie in


the Calabria region of Italy, runs Glasfryn farm, Rhydlewis,near Llandysul, with his wife Arlene. They have alreadysuffered


from the devastating effects of bovine TB after losing more than 40 cattle to the disease. Tony,along with his cousin


Tony Vasami and uncle Gino Vasami, runs 300 acres across the twofarms –Glasfryn and Rhydgoch at nearbyFfostrasol. Tony runs adairy pedigree


herdof100 Holsteins and 25 pedigree BrownSwiss and Ayrshirecattle at Glasfryn and the 2,500 litres of milk produced dailyare used forcheese produc- tion by Glanbia and at his cousin’s Italian restaurant La Calabria,onthe outskirtsof


TB WORRIES: Tonyand Arlene Hackwithsomeoftheir 12-week-old calves. “Weproduce high fatcontent


Ffostrasol, fortheir home-made ice cream. The higher fatcontent in the


milk wasachievedbyintroduc- ing the BrownSwiss and Ayrshirecattle. “Wedoall we can to top up


the farmbusiness income and this is whyweare not chasing the liquid market,”said Mr Hack.


milk forcheese production, which guarantees an extrapenny per litreofmilk.” Mr Hack, whoalso has afull-


time job as abreeding adviser forSemex, added: “With the constant threatofa bovine TB breakdown this extraincome is vital. “If youlose agood cowherd,


youcan’t just replace them –it doesn’t work likethat. We have just had aclear bovine TB test and sincerelyhope thatthe next test in 60 days’ time will be clear as well. “The Welsh Government real-


ly needs to takefurther action to control the badger population and eradicate bovine TB if they want to see familyfarms survive


Store to door move


ANEW direct sales initiative is ‘Bringing the storetothe door’ forCountrywide customers in the Carmarthen area. Countrywide has commis-


sioned its first direct sales van, fullystocked with farmsupplies –everything from lambing kit and markerspraystowater- proofs and wellies. On the road since November,


and with account manager and fullyqualified animal health spe- cialist Laurence Williams at the wheel, the newservice is already getting agreat response from local farmers. “Going on farmwith products


is ideal,”saysLaurence,who is based


at Countrywide’s


Carmarthen store. “Farmers can see just what


they need. It’smoreconvenient, far less hassle,especiallyfor those along wayfroma Countrywide store. “I’m getting agreat response


with lots of feedback about what they want to see on the van, all of which I’m taking on board. “Wehaveastrong bias


towardsseasonal and dailyuse products –parlour supplies,gels, sprays, applicator rings forlamb- ing and household items such as washing powder –but Ican always additems to the vanif asked.”


VAN SERVICE: Laurence Williams has had agreat response from farmers since launching Countrywide’s new van service.


Laurence,who has experience


of working on sheep and beef farms,isalso an AMTRA trained to advise and dispense animal health products such as flukeand blow-fly control. Animal health


“Farmers receive atextletting


them knowthatIamgoing to be in their area,”added Laurence. “A lot will text back asking to


products


alreadybought and paid forin- storecan also be deliveredon farmbyLaurence.


have certain products put on the van. This is agreat wayofget- ting to knowmycustomers and their needs better and under- standing howwecan help their businesses to progress.”


Countrywide’sagriculture


director Alistair Follysaid: “It reallyoffers our farmers the best of all worlds: amobile store, products deliveredonfarmplus, what we always value most high- ly,the advice and support of a qualified animal health expert.” Formoreinformation go to www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk.


For the latest Wales farming news: walesfarmer.co.uk


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in the future.” The Hacks plan to expand


their dairy herdand extend the flock of Charollais sheep once their son Steffan, aged 17, joins the familybusiness next year after completing his agriculture course at Gelli AurCollege. “Wewant to expand the dairy


herdonce my son comes to join the familybusiness,but it’sgoing


to be hardifwekeep losing cat- tle to bovine TB,” added Mr Hack. “I have been farming since I


was16and farming has been in the familyfor generations.Iam happythatmyson wants to join the familyfarmbusiness but unless the Welsh Government sorts out TB I’m afraid it’sgoing to put alot of youngsters off.”


email: wfeditor@walesfarmer.co.uk Send us your news and pictures


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