report on pirbright due between noon and 2pm today
here's hoping that they pinpoint that place as the official source
will finally make this gov. look like a bunch of muppets whether it's merial or the gov. lab - BOTH will be subject to inspections by gov. officials into the safety and efficiency of their biosecurity
in one sense it's 'good' that it's f&m that's escaped - compared with a lot of the other diseases they hold there ......
Looks like they are going to review the protection and surveillance areas - am awaiting with baited breath !!!! as I may well be in surveillance area then !
oh well - just be consoled by the fact that whilst farmers are not allowed to move animals the Rural Payments Agency inspectors are merrily going round from farm to farm to check on cross compliance to single farm payment and stewardship payments
the lunacy of the civil service and gov. seems to know no bounds
I heard on the radio this morning that footpaths and tracks are still open in the restricted area including one right across the field that most of the cows were kept in.
I would have thought that the gov. would be backing farmers and helping them protect their animals in the restricted area. But that would seem a little too sensible
Im really confused though, we are 10/ 15 mins from those farms at a yard with sheep, goats and a cow yet we are allowed on and off the yard, there is no disinfectant/ precautions in place and when YO phoned DEFRA was told she was fine to continue going out and about to compete?! Is it because the livestock at our yard are not for consumption? Sorry for the ignorance, I don't really understand it all...
Can anyone tell me what the deal is with the surveillance area? Can you move horses if your yard falls within that area? Also are you allowed to drive a horse lorry through it? I too am just outside the area so I could do with knowing in case they extend it.
phone the defra helpline if you are that close to the zone - better be sure and tbh - as I farm - consider if you really need to move that horse/make that journey
if you do and you are in the area then you should disinfect your lorry with virkon to avoid possible spread to uncontaminated areas