Many cows are due to calve next month

The government has promised to make a decision "within the next 48 hours" on the fate of thousands of livestock about to give birth.

The options for pregnant ewes - which cannot be taken to lambing sheds because of movement bans - include leaving them where they are, allowing closely-enforced transportation, or mass slaughter.

Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Carwyn Jones has been holding talks with his UK counterparts in London on the worsenig crisis.

The meeting comes as three new cases are confirmed in Wales - bringing the total to 12.

The latest sites are all in Powys - at a farm near Llanfair Caereinion, the Hamer abattoir in Llanidloes, and a farm at Brook near Welshpool.

Mr Jones's trip to London follows an admission that the Welsh Assembly would not have the resources to help the rural economy in Wales.

Farmers are also reeling from the news that they may not be able to export their animals until Christmas - 10 months after the outbreak in Wales.

Carwyn Jones AM: Talks on crisis

Meanwhile, the assembly is preparing 30,000 advice letters to send out to farmers in Wales.

The letters will include details of the symptoms of the disease, details of the licence system for the movement of livestock for slaughter, and the limited movement of animals for welfare reasons.

Talks are being held with the Post Office on how the letters will be delivered.

Mr Jones confirmed on Tuesday that restrictions would mean farmers would not be able to export their animals even if there was an immediate end to the crisis.

We are facing a national disaster, which fully justifies the use of the army

Bob Parry, FUW president

The number of confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 217.

Meanwhile, farmers in Wales have called for the army to be brought in to help speed up the disposal of animals slaughtered because of foot-and-mouth.

A spokesman for the barracks at Brecon in Powys confirmed on Tuesday that marksmen had been put on standby by the Ministry of Agriculture.

Bob Parry, president of the Farmers' Union of Wales, has said he believes the situation is severe enough to be declared a national crisis.

"We are facing a national disaster, which fully justifies the use of the army," he said.

Fellow farmer Mick Bates - who is the Liberal Democrats' spokesman on agriculture in the Welsh Assembly - has supported the call.

"We need more resources," said Mr Bates, who farms in Montgomeryshire.

Sheep take three weeks to show signs of the disease

Farming leaders from Wales travelled to Downing Street on Tuesday, where new emergency measures were agreed.

Details of revised procedures are expected to be revealed on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, an emergency scheme to support people on Anglesey - one of the worst affected areas - has begun.

Operation Phoenix will be a one-stop shop for people with problems, supported by the council, farming unions, the Tourist Board, Welsh Development Agency, and the Benefits Agency.

Fresh worries about the disease emerged on Monday with news that a group of sheep which arrived at a mid Wales abattoir may have been carrying it.

The arrival of 23 suspect lambs at the slaughterhouse in Llanidloes had brought into question the new system of allowing animals to be taken for slaughter from unaffected areas.

Despite the rush of new outbreaks the UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown is still adamant that the situation is under control.

Incubation

But Welsh politicians are taking a more cautious view.

Carwyn Jones said on Monday he hoped the picture across Wales would be clearer soon.

"The incubation period in sheep is three weeks, but the order forbidding movement of animals has only been in place for two weeks," he said.

"So it is possible that the symptoms we are seeing in sheep now are as a result of sheep picking up the disease before it was known that foot-and-mouth was in the UK."

Concern

"Hopefully, by Friday we will have a better idea of where the disease in Wales," said Mr Jones.

The unconfirmed case at Bancyfelin near St Clears is the greatest concern for more than 3,000 farmers.

It is an important milk producing region which so far appears to have escaped the epidemic.

If it proves positive it could signal the most serious development yet in the spread of the disease.

The NFU has set up a new dedicated helpline to answer queries on foot-and-mouth: 08000 646363