crazysheep:

No info here, i was lucky enough to have got my last ram lambs out and moved the last batch of ewes to go to tup this morning! Phew!

Lucky we don't put ours out till till the end of October so hopefully we will be able to put them out then although we were hoping to buy a couple of rams this year but it is starting too look unlikely that we will be able to. Thankfully we were able to move a load of ewes to another field before the ban although we were hoping to move some sheep up the road to the fields we had as hay too ease the pressure on the fields up here that we weaned the ewes off in to so that they were away from neighbouring houses so they would complain about the noise now we are stuck in the fact we haven't really got the room up here while we have 3 field of luch grass up the road.

This has even got my dad starting to think of conspiracies well he said you can't help but think that this could just be down to one person that has access to the bug and an axe to grind. Although he is still his eternal optomistic self, although he said he is less of an optomist and sees him self as a realist (I'm more of the opposite) it could probably rain fire and brimstone and while everyone else is running around screaming he would probably go "Oh just a little shower" and shelter in a shed or under a tree.

When I heard the news that it was back agin I couldn't help but think of an ad from down under of a 4x4 pick up (I think it was a Toyota Hilux)  "Bugger"

I expect Helen still had your supper ready when you got home Den ?

like you say what we do not need, spoke to TWR in the office this morning, they are seriosuly pissed off.

AJH

Just to let you know that livestock hauliers are talking about the crisis at this thread over on TruckNet UK. There seems to be some confusion as to when movement bans came in, and you'll look in vain on the Department for Transport website for any information on Foot & Mouth.

At least the Road Haulage Association is looking at ways to compensate hauliers for the last outbreak...

Main points from BBC 10 O'clock news:

• Egham now confirmed as same strain as Pirbright
• Several hundred pigs culled in Surrey
• Virus could have been carried on a lorry or a sheep caught it and transfered to Egham without showing symptoms
• Debate emerging over how well last outbreak handled. Questions now being asked over whether the rules are tough enough

As far as reports show, 800 pigs and a further 40 head of cattle were culled in Surrey today, at a neighbouring holding to the original outbreak. 

Julian Gairdner:

Virus could have been carried on a lorry or a sheep caught it and transfered to Egham without showing symptoms

We have just heard from a reliable source that movements to slaughter will be up and running tonight, but we have not had confirmation of this from DEFRA yet.

As soon as we do, it will be up on our special report: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2007/09/13/106655/foot-and-mouth-disease-fmd-2007-surrey-outbreak-farmers-weekly-interactives-special.html

re. the aged clun's comment

I seem to recall that in 2001 on infected farms around here, huge holes being dug and a lot of farm equipment (tractors, loaders ATVs etc.) being buried because it was claimed they could not be effectively disinfected.  I wonder what happened to the loaders etc. used in the cull of the first case at Normandy.  Also if the escape of virus from the Pirbright labs really was via the broken drain to groundwater, then transferred by builder's lorries, what steps have been taken to eliminate any remaining virus on those vehicles or any other plant they had on site? 

Second confirmed case next to Egham farm. Minor amendments have been made to the protection and surveillance zones as a result.

The Scottish Government has set up a public foot and mouth disease text messaging service to help keep concerned parties up-to-date on Foot and Mouth disease developments.  

Farmers, or other interested parties, can simply text FMD to 07781 482146 (note that FMD has to be uppercase). Subscribers will then be sent regular SMS text alerts about any changes to the foot and mouth situation.

NFU Scotland also runs free text and email update services for its members. NFU Scotland members can text their name and NFUS membership number to 07775 804717 for the text service or email weeklynews@nfus.org.uk to receive regular updates by email.

can anyone tell me where the carcasses are being taken for incineration this time? and did any of the lorries carrying culled animals from the first outbreaks this year pass fields where animals from the current outbreak were being kept?

The cull at the second farm has now been completed and carcasses have been removed, according to BBC News.

Animal health officers are now continuing to disinfect the property.

An interesting point the BBC have made is that some barriers and taped areas have been ignored or taken down by members of the general public. Police and trading standards officials are increasing their surveillance of the area, and authorities are warning of the consequences of not adhering to restrictions.

Those who ignore the restrictions could face fines of up to £5000 and/or a six month prison sentence. 

We await a press conference by chief vet, Debbie Reynolds at 10.30am this morning.