Farmers have been urged to test their cattle

The move follows initial tests carried out on beef cattle at Auchentibbert Farm near Stranraer.

The potential outbreak was brought to light when a number of cattle sent for slaughter were found to have lesions consistent with bovine TB.

Initial tests have indicated that 47 of the 183-strong herd may have been infected.

Arrangements are being made to slaughter all the animals suspected of having the disease.

I feel it is the responsible course of action to publish my farm details to raise awareness of this particular case and of the need for others farmers to be extremely vigilant John Howie Farmer

However, no decision will be made on the remainder of the herd until post-mortem examinations have been carried out.

The Scottish Executive expects the outbreak to be confirmed in the next few days. Further tests are to be carried on cattle from neighbouring farms.

Farm owner John Howie said: "The main priority just now is to co-operate with the authorities and to ensure all cattle movements from the farm are traced and that the outbreak is stamped out.

"This is extremely worrying for my business but I can't think about that just now.

"I feel it is the responsible course of action to publish my farm details to raise awareness of this particular case and of the need for others farmers to be extremely vigilant.

Testing urged

"I wouldn't wish for anyone else to go through this."

Meanwhile, farm workers who have been in direct contact with the potentially infected animals have been offered screening for TB.

A spokesman for the National Farmers Union of Scotland said the case reinforced the need for farmers to test animals for bovine TB before they were taken onto a farm or to isolate and test them shortly after they had arrived.

In Scotland there were 22 confirmed outbreaks in 2003, well below the incidence of TB in England and Wales.

Most of these cases have been traced to infected cattle brought in from high risk areas.