Just what next! The old adage that "it never rains but it pours" has never been truer than for the UK farmer right now. I think the question has to be over whether they government has learnt any lessons from last time. If a country has to slaughter seven million animals last time, surely there is a better way. The next question that everyone is already asking is where did it come from. It is extraordinary but one outbreak and you can see the costs to the industry are running into millions. I am awaiting the arrival of a nucleus flock of Hampshires from the UK and I guess that will now go on hold for however long. It is part of an iniative to bring out some UK pedigree cattle and sheep here so there is just one case of breeders doing a lot of work and then what.
Let us hope that it is an isolated case. If it is it will it then also be enough to convince the government that it is only a once in 35 year problem? We can only hope that it is a yes to both.