The threatened closure of Wales's only two remaining Defra veterinary centres could seriously delay the detection of animal diseases, the Farmers' Union of Wales complained today.

"If the centres at Aberystwyth and Carmarthen are closed Welsh farmers will be have to send samples for analysis to their nearest remaining centre by courier," said FUW vice president Brian Walters.

According to the Prosper trade union, the closure of six similar centres in England is also part of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) £2.4m cost-cutting plan submitted to Defra secretary Caroline Spelman yesterday.

"If these closures are approved farmers from all over Wales will have to send their samples to the nearest remaining centre many more miles away in England," said Mr Walters, who runs a dairy farm at Carmarthen.

“These laboratories provide an essential service in terms of testing for and monitoring animal diseases and are at the forefront of the battle to tackle animal health problems.

"Exactly ten years ago we were in the throes of a foot and mouth outbreak which decimated our industry and caused untold suffering.

"Without these laboratories our ability to deal with this type of incident in future will be severely compromised. I have written to the Westminster Government’s environment secretary and to our own animal health minister to highlight these concerns, which could cost the country dearly.”

Mr Walters said the laboratories also played a pivotal role in essential research into animal diseases and many FUW members and staff had taken part in research programmes which involved these laboratories.

“It is often essential to get samples to this type of lab as promptly as possible in order to find out the exact nature of a problem.

"Having such facilities within relatively easy travelling distance for farms is also vital in terms of identifying disease problems which are relevant to an individual business, or may even be important from a national perspective.

“The projected savings of £2.4m represent a small drop in the ocean compared with the cost to the nation of a major disease outbreak and the savings which can be made as a result of the research work which is undertaken at these locations.”

Prosper claims AHVLA wants to close laboratories at Aberystwyth, Carmarthen, Langford (Bristol), Truro (Cornwall), Thirsk (North Yorkshire), Winchester (Hampshire), Luddington (Warwickshire) and Preston (Lancashire) by April 2013, cutting 90 jobs.

Only six regional laboratories would remain at Shrewsbury, Penrith (Cumbria), Starcross (Devon), Bury St Edmunds (Suffolk), Sutton Bonington (Leicestershire) and Newcastle upon Tyne. They will continue to be supported by central work groups at Weybridge (Surrey) and Lasswade (Midlothian).