MOVES to persuade the Government to take the increasing incidence of bovine tuberculosis far more seriously are being made by the National Farmers' Union and local MPs.

Herd breakdowns are increasing dramatically in Herefordshire and adjoining counties and many farmers affected are at the end of their tether financially because of the movement restrictions being imposed.

With TB testing hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis, veterinary surgeons have been dealing urgently with the backlog and have found an increasing number of farms affected.

Hugh Black, an NFU delegate from Leominster, said while local figures were not immediately available, some 1,500 cattle a month were now being slaughtered nationally for TB compared with 7,000 a year some two years ago. "Already in the first five months of this year numbers have overtaken a previous year's total. This is taking the backlog into account but things are rather alarming and beginning to look really serious," he said.

Mr Black said that badger surveys on the relationship between infection in badgers and cattle being carried out in line with Professor Krebs recommendations were continuing in Herefordshire and one would be starting in the Ledbury area later in the year.

"There are an increasing number of herds in Herefordshire being closed with TB," he added.

Leominster's MP, Bill Wiggin is continuing his fight on TB. He recently led an adjournment debate in the House of Commons, and has put down an early-day motion to further challenge the Government.

His motion condemns the complacent attitude of the Government to the crisis and, in particular, the lack of an interim plan to deal with restricted farms, the lack of testing of road-kill badgers in infected hotspots outside trial areas, and the lack of urgency in bringing in better diagnosis and vaccination.

"Our farmers have suffered so much over the last few years. Now is the time to show them some support."

Roger Williams, MP for Brecon and Radnor, said there was a feeling among farming people that the Government was not facing up to the scientific evidence that was available. "It is also not facing up to the tough decisions it might have to make," he added.