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Monks seek reprieve for bullock Monks seek reprieve for bullock
(about 3 hours later)
Hindu monks have argued in court for a reprieve for their "sacred" bullock Shambo, who is due to be slaughtered after testing positive for bovine TB.Hindu monks have argued in court for a reprieve for their "sacred" bullock Shambo, who is due to be slaughtered after testing positive for bovine TB.
A judgement will be delivered in Cardiff on Monday on whether there will be a judicial review on the decision.A judgement will be delivered in Cardiff on Monday on whether there will be a judicial review on the decision.
Lawyers for a multi-faith community in Carmarthenshire want the review.Lawyers for a multi-faith community in Carmarthenshire want the review.
Rural Development Minister Jane Davidson took great care amid the case's sensitivities, but she decided he must be put down, the court heard.Rural Development Minister Jane Davidson took great care amid the case's sensitivities, but she decided he must be put down, the court heard.
Giving evidence, the assembly government's legal counsel the UK has the highest rate of bovine TB in Europe, and west Wales, where Shambo lives, is a known hotspot. David Anderson QC, for the Skanda Vale community, said there were "exceptional features" in the case.
The barrister said the accepted policy was that the best way to contain the disease, and to eliminate risk, was to slaughter any animal that has failed a TB test. It is necessary to eliminate the risk Clive Lewis QC, Welsh Assembly Government
The community there have a deep respect for life, for human life and animal life and we are trampling on their feelings for no good reason Paul Flynn MP "Shambo is an animal of considerable religious significance", he said.
However, he said it could not be known for sure if any animal had contracted full-blown TB until after a post-mortem examination. "A policy devised for farm animals cannot be read over to these very different circumstances," said Mr Anderson.
The counsel said the minister had taken great care considering the case, but she concluded that in the wider interests of human and animal health, the bullock must be put down. He said his clients believed that slaughtering the bullock would be "an act of violence to life and a desecration of the temple".
To allow it to live, the counsel said, would run a considerable risk that TB could be picked up by other animals and passed on to livestock or humans. Referring to article nine of the European Convention of Human Rights, which guarantees "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion" and the right to "to manifest religion or belief in worship" Mr Anderson said slaughtering Shambo would be a "serious infringement in a deeply-held belief".
Lawyers for the Skanda Vale community at Llanpumsaint in Carmarthenshire argued that killing the bullock would violate their right to freedom of religion. Clive Lewis QC, for the Welsh Assembly Government, said bovine TB was a major threat to animal health.
They also said they would keep Shambo away from other animals and that, even if he does develop TB, he will not be a risk to public and animal health.
Control measuresControl measures
"Bovine tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease capable of transmission to other animals, including wildlife and indeed to humans," said Mr Lewis.
"The matter has been considered personally by the minister," he said. "She has asked what steps are needed to protect health. She has taken advice from the chief veterinary officer and the chief medical officer," said Mr Lewis.
"This was a long, careful, constructive consideration at the highest levels of the assembly. It is necessary to eliminate the risk".
Mr Lewis told the court there was no accepted treatment for bovine TB in the UK, with policy based on surveillance and slaughter.
"We should not go into experimental bovine drug testing," said Mr Lewis.
Farmers and AMs have said the bullock should face the same fate as any other cattle diagnosed with bovine TB.Farmers and AMs have said the bullock should face the same fate as any other cattle diagnosed with bovine TB.
The community there have a deep respect for life, for human life and animal life and we are trampling on their feelings for no good reason Paul Flynn MP
Under control measures, slaughter is carried out to protect human and animal health.Under control measures, slaughter is carried out to protect human and animal health.
The hearing came at it emerged that other animals at the community, a former hill farm, may have also tested positive for the disease.The hearing came at it emerged that other animals at the community, a former hill farm, may have also tested positive for the disease.
But Newport West MP Paul Flynn described the calls for Shambo to be slaughtered as "barbaric" and the "crude power of the farming industry stamping their will on a community".But Newport West MP Paul Flynn described the calls for Shambo to be slaughtered as "barbaric" and the "crude power of the farming industry stamping their will on a community".
"The community there have a deep respect for life, for human life and animal life and we are trampling on their feelings for no good reason.""The community there have a deep respect for life, for human life and animal life and we are trampling on their feelings for no good reason."
Brynle Williams, Conservative spokesman on rural affairs in the assembly, said "sentiment" needed to be taken out of the debate.Brynle Williams, Conservative spokesman on rural affairs in the assembly, said "sentiment" needed to be taken out of the debate.
He said: "What a lot of people omit to understand that each time this poor animal breathes, he excretes the virus."He said: "What a lot of people omit to understand that each time this poor animal breathes, he excretes the virus."
A campaign to save Shambo has included an online petition which has attracted almost 20,000 names. A video stream has also been broadcast live from Shambo's pen in the temple.A campaign to save Shambo has included an online petition which has attracted almost 20,000 names. A video stream has also been broadcast live from Shambo's pen in the temple.