Outbreaks threaten movement plan

28 February 2001



Outbreaks threaten movement plan

By FWi Staff

FRESH outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease could thwart a partial resumption of livestock movements, warns Britains biggest livestock exporter.

Agriculture minister Nick Brown is working on proposals to allow livestock movement from farm to abattoir under strict license in some unaffected areas.

But outbreaks at Stonesby and Fenny Drayton, Leicestershire took the number of cases to 24 on Wednesday (28 February).

The Leicestershire cases are significant, because the county was previously unaffected by the disease, said meat and livestock exporters Farmers First.

“With news of more outbreaks, the question is whether there are going to be any areas clear,” said Farmers First marketing director Mike Gooding.

Farmers First was launched in 1998 as Farmers Ferry and raised 1 million with the backing of 6000 farmers. It exports lamb from Britain to the Continent.

A Farmers Fresh abattoir business was created in May of this year. A flotation in July created the parent company Farmers First to oversee both initiatives.

Before livestock exports were banned because of the foot-and-mouth outbreak, the company exported 16,000 live sheep and 10,000 carcasses a week.

But Mr Gooding was confident the company would survive. “Farmers First is not going away. As soon as this is over we shall come flying out of the blocks.”

Farmers First had demonstrated over the past two-and-a-half years how important the overseas trade is for British farmers, Mr Gooding added.

“We have been buoyed up by our past successes and must ride out this storm and once we get out the other side pull all the stops out to trade again.”