South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies has slammed Senedd ministers’ “unnecessary” livestock restrictions, after they resulted in a significant reduction in the numbers of cattle entering Wales from England.
Answers to written questions submitted by Mr Davies revealed 9,366 cattle entered Wales from England between 1 September and 1 October 2025, compared with 15,167 in the previous year.
The overall number of cattle registered as being in Wales was also down on 2024.
Mr Davies, who chairs the Senedd’s Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee, said the figures proved Senedd ministers had caused unnecessary damage to the Welsh agricultural industry.
The restrictions were imposed to prevent the spread of the bluetongue virus, an exercise Mr Davies branded “futile” and “doomed to fail”.
He pointed out the virus is not spread livestock to livestock, it is spread by midges flying through the air. He said the idea insects would respect borders was “laughable”.
He also questioned if the policy was part of a deliberate ploy to reduce livestock numbers in Wales.
Mr Davies said:
“These unnecessary restrictions were never about stopping the spread of the bluetongue virus – they were imposed to achieve Senedd ministers’ ideological objectives of separatism and environmental extremism.
“Senedd ministers’ goals are not to protect the Welsh agricultural industry – they’re to create a hard border with England and to reduce the number of cattle in Wales.
“These objectives will have devastating consequences for rural communities – as these figures show.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below answers to written questions submitted to Senedd ministers by Andrew RT Davies
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97626 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many cattle entered Wales from England between 1 August and 1 September 2024, using British Cattle Movement Service data?
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97627 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many cattle entered Wales from England between 1 August and 1 September 2025, using British Cattle Movement Service data?
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97628 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many cattle entered Wales from England between 1 September and 1 October 2024, using British Cattle Movement Service data?
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97629 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many cattle entered Wales from England between 1 September and 1 October 2025, using British Cattle Movement Service data?
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97636 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many sheep were registered to be in Wales between 1 July 2025 and 1 October 2025?
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97637 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many cattle were registered as being in Wales between 1 July and 1 October 2025?
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97638 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many sheep were registered as being in Wales between 1 July and 1 October 2024?
Andrew R.T. Davies (South Wales Central) WQ97639 (e) – Will the Cabinet Secretary confirm how many cattle were registered as being in Wales between 1 July and 1 October 2024?
Huw Irranca Davies: The latest Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) data indicates 11,588 cattle entered Wales from England between 1 August and 1 September 2024 and 7,235 cattle entered Wales from England between 1 August and 1 September 2025.
APHA data indicates 15,167 cattle entered Wales from England between 1 September and 1 October 2024 and 9,366 cattle entered Wales from England between 1 September and 1 October 2025.
Data for sheep registrations is not held.
Data from the British Cattle Movement Service indicates that an average of 1,095,610 cattle were registered as being in Wales between 1 July and 1 October 2024 and an average of 1,088,886 cattle were registered as being in Wales between 1 July and 1 October 2025. The British Cattle Movement Service provided data for each individual month; however, for clarity and ease of interpretation, we have presented the figures as an average.