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Farmers monitor disease situation Animal tested for foot-and-mouth
(about 2 hours later)
Farmers across Scotland have been closely monitoring the impact of a newly confirmed case of foot-and-mouth in southern England. Vets are investigating a suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease at an agricultural centre in Lanarkshire.
A temporary control zone is in place around a farm near Egham in Surrey. A single sheep is being tested after showing some symptoms of the disease and the police have been called in to restrict movements on the site.
A major lamb sale in southern Scotland has started and organisers have been in contact with health officials in case movement restrictions are imposed. About 1,000 people and 700 sheep are inside the Lawrie and Symington Agricultural centre, near Lanark.
It comes on the same day that a new case of the disease was confirmed at a farm in the south of England.
"There is a sheep at Lanark market that has been reported ill and as a general biosecurity measure we are sending a government vet," said a Scottish Government spokesman.
"There is no indication as to what it could be."
The spectre of 2001 still looms over this area's recent history; it is certainly not an experience any of us want to repeat Alasdair MorganSouth of Scotland MSP
Farmers across Scotland have been closely monitoring the impact of the newly confirmed case of foot-and-mouth in southern England, a month after a number of other cases were diagnosed there.
A control zone is in place around a farm near Egham in Surrey.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead is due to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the matter.Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead is due to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on the matter.
An NFU Scotland spokesman said it was regularly checking on the situation around the farm involved. The news comes at one of the busiest times of year for the farming industry.
A major lamb sale in southern Scotland has started and organisers have been in contact with health officials in case movement restrictions are imposed.
About 14,000 Scotch Mule ewe lambs have started going under the hammer at the sale at Wallets Marts in Castle Douglas.About 14,000 Scotch Mule ewe lambs have started going under the hammer at the sale at Wallets Marts in Castle Douglas.
A spokesman said the event would continue but if restrictions were brought in - as happened last month - then the sheep would have to be licensed before they could be moved. On Friday a major sale of breeding rams is due to be held in Kelso.
The company has been in touch with government health officials in case the situation changes. A National Farmers Union Scotland spokesman said it was monitoring the situation.
Busiest time 'Worst news'
On Friday a major sale of breeding rams is due to be held in Kelso and the organisers now face the prospect of having to cancel it at short notice. Conservative spokesman on rural affairs, John Scott MSP, said the Surrey case was the "worst possible news imaginable" for livestock producers.
This is one of the busiest times of year for the industry as auctioneers and hauliers are handling thousands of lambs and calves sold by hill farmers to those in the lowlands for finishing prior to slaughter. "Our industry was just returning to normal following the lifting of movement restrictions on Sunday," he said.
"However regrettable, it is essential that a movement ban be put in place immediately to control any risk of further spreading the disease."
South of Scotland SNP MSP Alasdair Morgan said he was "dismayed" at the news of a newly confirmed case.
The last outbreak in August prompted livestock restrictions
"The spectre of 2001 still looms over this area's recent history; it is certainly not an experience any of us want to repeat," he said.
He added that the prompt response to the earlier outbreak gave him confidence that the Scottish Government would deal with the disease.
This is a busy time for the industry as auctioneers and hauliers are handling thousands of lambs and calves sold by hill farmers to those in the lowlands for finishing prior to slaughter.
It is the hill farmers' harvest which has already been delayed by movement restrictions imposed after the August outbreak.It is the hill farmers' harvest which has already been delayed by movement restrictions imposed after the August outbreak.
Meat processors - who have only just restarted exports to Europe following previous cases in Surrey - were hoping wider international bans would be lifted in November.Meat processors - who have only just restarted exports to Europe following previous cases in Surrey - were hoping wider international bans would be lifted in November.