ANIMAL health officers are carrying out visits across the Pontyberem area after a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in local poultry.

The Welsh Government has put in place a 3km Avian Influenza Protection Zone and a wider 10km Surveillance Zone around the infected premises. These controls are designed to limit any further spread of the disease.

Council officers will visit every address within the zones – including homes, farms, smallholdings and businesses – to provide information and ensure keepers understand the restrictions now in force. Any location where poultry or other captive birds are kept must follow strict movement and biosecurity requirements. A map of the zones and full details of the rules are available on the Welsh Government website.

The strain identified in Pontyberem is one adapted to birds and is considered to present very low risk to human health. Households and businesses that do not keep birds are not required to take any action.

Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, said:

“The confirmation of avian influenza in the Pontyberem area is very sad news for the keeper involved, but I want to reassure residents that the risk to people is very low.

“I would urge anyone who keeps poultry or other captive birds within the affected zones to follow the enhanced biosecurity measures. Keepers elsewhere in Wales must also comply with the all-Wales prevention zone that came into force on 13 November.”

Residents are reminded that dead wild birds – including swans, geese, ducks, gulls and birds of prey – should be reported to the Defra Helpline on 03459 33 55 77 (option 7).

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have welcomed a new announcement from Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch outlining her proposals to safeguard the future of the UK’s farming industry.

During a press conference earlier today, Ms Badenoch pledged to scrap what the party describes as the “Family Farm Tax”, cut red tape, reduce bureaucracy, lower energy bills and step up efforts to tackle rural crime. She told supporters that the Conservatives “understand what farmers are going through” and would ensure their voices are heard.

Commenting on the announcement, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Samuel Kurtz MS, said Labour in both Westminster and Cardiff Bay had “made it clear they do not understand rural life.”

“Farmers are facing immense pressures from rising costs, uncertain markets and changes to agricultural policy,” he said.

“Labour’s family farm tax, their inability to deal with rural crime, high energy costs and unnecessary red tape could all be the final straw for many. Today’s announcement reiterates that the Conservatives are the only party standing with our farming communities.”

Mr Kurtz added that the Welsh Conservatives’ own plan for agriculture, combined with the pledges set out by Ms Badenoch, would help the sector “thrive”.

“Farming in Wales needs a friend,” he said, “and that friend is the Welsh Conservatives.”

POLICE are investigating the theft of 29 yearling ewes from mountain grazing land in Cilycwm, near Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire.

The livestock were taken sometime between 1 September and 22 October 2025, according to Dyfed-Powys Police.

The ewes are mostly white-bodied and have two distinctive pitchmarks which officers hope will help farmers and the public identify them. These include a black number 8 marked on the side of the body and a green ‘T’ symbol on the top of the back. Images of the missing animals have been issued as part of the appeal.

The force’s Rural Crime Team is urging anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity on the mountainside during that period, or who has information on the location of the animals, to contact officers on 101.

Alternatively, information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via the Crimestoppers website.