The National Farmers Union in the South West has reiterated its commitment to working with Defra to eradicate bovine TB and has welcomed moves to DNA-tag cattle testing positive for the disease.

The move comes after alleged evidence of fraud emerged from an investigation instigated by Gloucestershire Trading Standards, which reviewed TB cattle sent to two slaughterhouses.

The South West also remains one of the worst hit areas in the country for bovine TB and farmers are becoming increasingly concerned at the lack of action.

Defra has now said that evidence is emerging that some farmers in the South West and the Midlands have been swapping cattle ear tags and retaining TB-positive animals in their herds and sending less productive animals to slaughter in their place.

NFU president Peter Kendall told South West Farmer: “I am deeply concerned by this emerging evidence. If there is any proven unlawful activity then I unequivocally condemn any behaviour involving the deliberate switching of the identity of animals following a positive TB test. It is simply wrong.

“While we have not seen the substantive detail of the case it is likely there could be prosecutions arising from the work undertaken by Gloucestershire Trading Standards and Defra, so I cannot comment about these cases directly.”

Mr Kendall said he knew that TB was one of the major challenges facing the NFU and had talked to many members over the past few years whose businesses had been devastated by the disease.

“Against this background I am really struggling to understand why farmers would undertake the sorts of activities being highlighted. “In my discussions with farmers I have seen nothing other than an overwhelming commitment and desire to want to get this dreadful disease under control. That is why we are putting in an enormous amount of time and effort to developing an effective eradication plan.”

Everyone should focus on the future said Mr Kendall who was pleased that safeguards had been put in place immediately to stop this sort of thing happening again.

“ I welcome the DNA tagging by Animal Health,” he added.