FARMERS across the region are being urged not to drop their guard, as a second case of foot-and-mouth disease is confirmed in Surrey. Across the North-East and Yorkshire more than 7,000 livestock farmers are affected by the total ban on animal movements, introduced by Defra last Friday. “Despite being so far away from the outbreak, it is vital we continue to check our animals carefully and maintain the highest possible levels of biosecurity,” said Malcolm Corbett, Rochester farmer and chairman of the NFU’s regional livestock board. “Above all, our focus must be on containing and eradicating this disease as quickly as possible.” Reviewing the impact of the movement restrictions on farmers so far, Mr Corbett said the difficulties it caused for such a major livestock area could not be underestimated. “It effectively shuts the industry down,” he said. “With no animals being sent for slaughter, the impact is felt not only by farmers – who face a loss of earnings and higher feed costs – but also by the rest of the supply chain, from auction marts and abattoirs to food processors and manufacturers. More than that, though, a continued movement ban threatens animal welfare, with farmers unable to move fallen stock and carry out routine tasks that involve moving animals on the road. “It’s also heartbreaking to see a ban on exports reintroduced just a year on from the markets being reopened. This threatens to undo the progress we have made over recent months in achieving a more sustainable farm gate price. If we are to minimise the damage caused by this outbreak and maximise our chances of regaining our export markets, it really is vital we focus all our efforts on closing this outbreak down.” Douglas Chalmers, director CLA North, said: “At the moment we have to face a number of fears – that the disease will somehow appear here, that animals may be ‘trapped’ in the wrong place away from care and attention and that there is no way of getting live, or dead stock away from the farm. “Of course, the important task is to eliminate this terrible scourge, and we know that allowing uncontrolled movements put the whole country at risk, but we need to overlay this with a degree of rationalisation. “We and other organisations are working to ensure that the regulations recognise the need for essential management and some safe movement. At the moment, dairy cows can be moved for milking, and sick animals for medical attention. There are many other situations where welfare necessity and economic needs should be recognised. “Top marks to Defra for clamping down on movements, but there are farms where there is a real need for a licence to move stock, for example to allow calving cows to receive attention without necessarily calling a vet. “Shearing and dipping is not yet completed in some areas. Any dead stock is currently trapped on farm, and we must also consider how we can allow finished animals to go to a market.” Angus Collingwood-Cameron, CLA director in the North-East, said: “Financial hardship now looms for many. Although we escaped the floods, we still have waterlogged land and trapped stock may need supplementary feeding.” | 
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