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Farming Matters!
Foot and Mouth Disease

pigs

Objections to movement and welfare schemes.

19/5/01 - The government's proposals on livestock movements, in their current form, will be unworkable and cause further farm closures according to many farmers. The time for official representations has been extended to June 11th. If you are concerned write to MAFF. Similarly the way in which welfare payments were cut has been challenged. Again, if you are concerned about animal welfare and fair payments to farmers, write to MAFF. ( More information and full address at the Farmers for Action website.

True figures over 6000

1/5/01 - The number of confirmed cases has slowed over recent weeks, although there are fears that it could rise again following the Easter and Bank Holiday periods. However the true figure for farms 'killed out' is over 6000. This is because of the culling of dangerous contacts, many of which may have been incubating the disease. On average for every farm confirmed as a case four others will have been affected directly. A fortnight ago the total number of affected farms stood at 6158 (Source - Yorkshire Post).

Outbreaks - over a thousand.

11/4/01 -
(Further updates. - Also see the link to Farmers Weekly News at the bottom of this page.) Please note however that updates are dependent on information issued by MAFF. This has been difficult to access for the last few days with information being released less frequently.

Speculation over the source of the FMD outbreak and its spread continues in the national press.

Comments are being made that FMD is comparable to the flu. This is not the case. Ulceration of the tongue and internal organs causes extreme suffering to the affected animals. Within 24 hours they can be in such distress that it would be cruel to let them live. They cannot feed and in some cases can actually lose their tongues! This is not a minor ailment with the slaughter policy being for economic reasons.

6/4/01
One question being asked increasingly in the last week is "Should we be vaccinating against FMD?" If the policy is vaccinate and slaughter it could provide a 'firebreak' in the areas worst affected. However those concerned for pedigree herds and for rare breeds are looking for a 'vaccinate to let live' policy. One site to visit for articles on this issue is Sheepdrove organics.

Original article.

3/3/01 - Foot and mouth is the most highly infectious disease which can affect sheep, pigs cattle, deer and goats. It has been confirmed on at least forty sites across the United Kingdom.
The need to transport livestock hundreds of miles for slaughter has without doubt contributed to the catastrophic spread of foot and mouth disease. This is because of the widespread closure of smaller abattoirs due to the red-tape and punitive costs imposed on them by government departments. Concerns were expressed about the effects this situation could have two years ago, sadly it is a worse scenario than was ever thought of!

Far from helping the smaller abattoirs to remain open the FSA is proposing more charges on them specifically. This can only add to the animal welfare problem in the future! (Write expressing your concern to all the relevant authorities. Don't let it slip through while attention is focused on the current crisis. See Abattoirs)

The total ban on overseas sales of livestock, meat and milk and the closure of abattoirs and cattle markets in an attempt to halt the spread of the disease means that farm incomes will be severely affected. Allied trades too will lose their incomes:- abattoirs, hauliers etc.For those with confirmed cases all livestock on the farm will have been slaughtered and incinerated. This is then followed by an extensive quarantine period. To see ones animals and life's work suffer all this must be absolutely heartbreaking.

What can the public do?

  • Keep off farms; and that means farm land too!!
  • Keep away from livestock