Crisis lays bloodlines to waste
Crisis lays bloodlines to waste
By Jeremy Hunt
IRREPLACEABLE bloodlines built up by generations of stock breeders are being wiped out as pedigree flocks and herds fall victim to the foot-and-mouth crisis.
Last week pedigree beef producers from all breeds were stunned to hear of the slaughter of 740 Charolais and Limousin cattle in Jim Goldies world famous herds in Dumfriesshire.
He also lost his Texel flock and now another of the breeds most influential flocks is being slaughtered in the pre-emptive cull.
Dumfriesshire breeder Keith Jamiesons Annan flock of 200 Texels was founded in the mid-1970s and has been a major influence.
"This is a great blow to the Texel. The Annan flock has had a profound effect on the breed over three decades and its loss will mean that important breeding lines will be difficult to replace," said Texel Sheep Society secretary Steve McLean.
Nearly 80 pedigree Texels flocks have so far been slaughtered; only 10% of registered Texel flocks remain in Dumfries.
As the disease has spread across Cumbria it has claimed over 200 head in the Hartside Limousin herd of Johnny Thompson at Melmerby, near Penrith. Several pedigree Holstein breeders from the county have also been hit including Holstein UK and Ireland chairman Mike Armstrongs Wolfa herd.
Youngstock from top Friesian breeder Willie Armours Annandale herd at Moffat, Dumfriesshire, have also been slaughtered. Alistair Houston, Simmental and Charolais breeder from south-west Scotland, who bred leading bull Gretna House Supersonic, has lost all his cattle.
And the Parkgate Charolais herd of the Piele family from west Cumbria has also fallen foul of the disease.
Some breeds with smaller numbers, such as the Galloway and Beef Shorthorn, cannot afford to lose any bloodlines. The slaughter of James and Donald Biggars herd at Castle Douglas will be sorely felt.
The familys Chapelton Beef Shorthorns have had a significant impact on the breeds growing rise in popularity in recent years; the loss of their Grange herd of 60-plus Galloway cows ends over 150 years of continuous breeding by the Biggar family.
"James Biggars grandfather started the herd in 1846. He was a founder member of the breed society. Losing pedigree stock in any breed is very sad, but in this case we are losing the seed-corn of 150 years of breeding," said Galloway Cattle Society secretary Alex McDonald.
There is a feeling of desolation in the Eden Valley in Cumbria where fields are stripped bare of livestock. Top Blue-faced Leicester bloodlines from the outstanding Old Parks flock owned by the Raine family are among the losers.
Suffolk flocks have also suffered, with 11 flocks wiped out by mid-week. Now the Suffolk Sheep Society is calling for a derogation from MAFF for pedigree flocks.
"We must rid the UK of foot-and-mouth disease, but we are asking MAFF to recognise the special circumstances relating to pedigree sheep management. We are willing to have blood tests to show flocks are clear of the virus," said society president Sandy Lee of Aberdeenshire. *
PEDIGREELOSSES
• Leading herds hit.
• Bloodlines lost.
• Derogation sought.