It is really heartbreaking to see the cloven hoofed stock being
slaughtered to prevent the spread of the disease. There is a danger
that it may spread to the wildlife and that the deer and hedgehogs and most
of the rest of the animals will have to be mass slaughtered.
These events have been cancelled because of the coming together of
people and animals from many different parts of the country and then passing
on the problems by contact, returning and spreading foot and mouth to
other areas. Thousands and thousands of farm animals have been
slaughtered and burned. Foot and mouth mostly affects cloven hoofed animals
as in pigs, sheep,cattle, and goats. When the problem is detected in
one beast on a farm every beast has to be slaughtered ASAP with no
exceptions. I am afraid this this may carry on for a few weeks more yet.
Many farm workers have already been let go and farmers are not allowed to
move or sell their stock, or move them to slaughter. Transport firms
have already gone broke. The French have already slaughtered 20,000
sheep imported from UK two weeks ago although there were no cases three of
the sheep were found to have Foot and mouth antibodies in their
systems! Would be exhibiters for Crufts from Europe
have been told that their dogs may not be allowed back into their country of
origin if they come to England. Of course all this has meant a meat price
hike!
We all hope that this does not last too long.
Ian
L