Farm disease spreads to Scotland

Netherplace farm was one of two identified

Scotland's first cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed following tests on two farms.

The disease was detected at Netherplace farm in Lockerbie and Parkhouse farm in Canonbie, both in Dumfries and Galloway, the Scottish Executive said.

Further tests are still being carried out on other farms.

This is obviously a devastating blow - it goes without saying that this is a major concern

Ross Finnie, Rural Affairs Minster

The announcement came as a shattering blow for Scotland's meat industry, which has been dreading confirmation that the disease has spread north of the border.

UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said: "This is very serious. I had hoped that if we were able to regionalise the outbreak and keep it firmly contained then we could make a case for disease-free status for parts of the United Kingdom.

"Now clearly any attempt to do that is seriously compromised by the discovery of the condition in Scotland, where there are two cases as I understand it."

Nick Brown: "This is very serious"

The confirmation of a further case in Cumbria and the first case in Northern Ireland brings the total to 31 in the UK.

A ban has been placed on the movement of suspect animals within a 10-mile radius of the Scottish properties.

"The effect of this is that there will be no movement of susceptible livestock into, out of or within these areas," said a Scottish Executive spokesman.

"The cattle at the farms will be valued for compensation before slaughter and disposal."

Scottish Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie said: "This is obviously a devastating blow - it goes without saying that this is a major concern but, of course, not unexpected.

'A tragedy'

"The necessary controls are now in place around the affected farms.

"We will maintain our tough controls in Scotland and the rest of the UK until we have contained and eradicated the disease."

No Scottish farm can consider itself safe from foot-and-mouth disease, the Scottish NFU president has warned.

Jim Walker said confirmation that the disease had reached Scotland was "a tragedy for the whole industry".

Jim Walker: "Dangers beyond comprehension"

He said: "The dangers for our industry are beyond comprehension and this news will confirm the worst fears of Scottish farmers.

"Farmers across the country must protect themselves as best they can and every precaution must be taken."

Graeme Cochrane, Divisional Veterinary Manager for the Ayr division, said the Lockerbie case involved sheep and the Canonbie case related to cattle.

Andrew Campbell, Convenor of Dumfries and Galloway Council, said: "We don't see this as just two farms and we just don't see it as having to safeguard the whole livestock of Dumfries and Galloway, but the whole of Scotland."

Mr Campbell, who is a farmer, added: "You can't see it and you can't smell it, but for heaven's sake use common sense and take advice from the veterinary department."

Two more farms in central Scotland are also under suspicion, with test results due tomorrow.