Foot and Mouth is back

[Drift]

It back again, in the same area.
Hopefully it can be contained.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6990913.stm

[lambert]

I hope so we are meant to be having all our sheep away to sales on the 19th :(  :?

[Drift]

I think the movement ban will be on past that date as its a 2 week gestation period for the disease  :(

[P16LET]

The survivablity of the F&M virus varies greatly depending on the carrier...for example it can live for up to 20 days on soil but in contrast 20 weeks on straw.

So in light of the straw shortage that is going to become more and more evident in the south of england (..already reflected in straw prices) the virus could keep popping up, even if only in isolated cases for a long while yet  

I was more than a little surprised to get an automated phonecall from the State Veterinary Service (as was) last friday, to say all movement restrictions were now lifted and an all clear had been announced....and now this.

My signs are going back up this week to advise people to keep away from my stock (...the perils of having them next to a road and running with horses)

So if you have to buy in straw or hay, just be darn careful of where it's coming from and if in doubt...CHECK!

[adafish]

more panic buying by my customers then...the cost of beef this week has already gone up by 15p a lb...the scotch beef i sell, well thats just hitting 220 per lb on the topside.....

[V8MoneyPit]

We helped the local farmer pull the straw off his fields a few weeks ago, so we know where ours came from!!

[lambert]

And the best laugh is fmd is treatable and the animals get better. :roll:  :(