Animal Health and Welfare Committee
As part of the Union's on-going commitment to issues relating to animal welfare, endemic and exotic diseases and public health, the FUW established this new Committee in 2012, focusing on Animal Health and Welfare issues in Wales.
With the exception of the additional costs conferred during a disease outbreak, over £300 million per annum is currently spent on UK animal health and welfare issues. In the 2009/2010 financial year, Defra spent £356.5 million on animal health and welfare. Of this, £56 million was spent on bovine TB, the single largest area of spend.
It is essential that the FUW continues to provide a strong voice on animal health and welfare issues to government, to ensure that disease management policies are appropriate and practical for welsh farmers to contribute towards. On 1st April 2011, the animal health and welfare budget was transferred to Wales, with funding being allocated on an historic spending and animal number basis. Wales will receive £21 million for the 2011/2012 financial years, although spend pertaining to research and surveillance matters will continue to be centrally funded. This new FUW committee is therefore in an ideal position to help influence the animal health and welfare priorities for Wales, 2012 onwards.
The chair of the Animal Health & Welfare committee is Farmers' Union of Wales Carmarthenshire county vice chairman Catherine Nakielny. Miss Nakielny, 34, of Blaennant, Talley, near Llandeilo, works as an independent sheep consultant and also helps run the 350-acre family upland sheep farm.
Catherine is a co-opted member of the FUW's livestock, wool and marts committee and the union's parliamentary and land use committee. She represents welsh interests with the National Sheep Association and is studying the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions and efficient sheep production as part of her Nuffield Scholarship, looking at sheep production systems around the world.
