Union backs cull escalation

Farmers had hoped the cull of sheep would save cattle from slaughter

Scotland's farming union has given its backing to the latest escalation in the fight against foot-and-mouth disease.

The National Farmers' Union Scotland (NFUS) said many farmers will be devastated by the plan to include cattle and pigs in the cull of apparently healthy livestock.

But it urged the Scottish Executive "to act - and act quickly".

As the number of confirmed cases north of the border rose to 78 on Saturday, the Scottish Executive announced that cattle and pigs on land bordering farms where the disease has been detected since 16 March will be included in the pre-emptive slaughter.

Confirmed farms in Scotland include

78 cases on 24 March

Lockerbie (12 cases)

Canonbie (12)

Gretna (16)

Lochmaben(3)

Twynholm

Langholm

Beattock(4)

Corrie

Ruthwell(5)

Tundergarth

Moffat

Dalton(2)

Torthorward

Mouswald(6)

Hightae(2)

Kirtlebridge(2)

Creca

Collin

Kirkpatrick Fleming(2)

Annan

Troqueer

New Abbey

Haugh of Urr

The cull had previous only applied to sheep on farms within a 3km radius of an infected farm, or that had been in contact with infected animals.

The Executive insists the escalation of its "firebreak policy" is necessary if the outbreak is to be contained.

And the vice president of the NFUS, John Kinnaird, said they have no option but to support this latest step.

He said: "It is a major step, but we have to try and keep one step ahead of this disease.

"I think it just emphasises the need and the urgency of getting this pre-emptive cull going to try and put a firebreak in to stop this disease, and quickly."

In many respects this latest measure will cause even greater devastation than the sheep cull which is already underway.

John Kinnaird: Emphasises the need for urgency

Many farmers in Dumfries and Galloway had gone along with the earlier scheme in the hope that their cattle might survive - now that hope is gone.

The automatic slaughter policy was also announced in London by UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown.

A Scottish Executive spokesman confirmed that the extended culling programme was additional to other slaughter measures.

He said: "The overall aim of the strategy is to prevent the disease spreading beyond the east, west and north boundaries of known disease clusters.

"It will regrettably be necessary to remove all susceptible livestock on farms adjacent to premises which were confirmed as infected on or after 16 March.

"Beyond this area, the policy will remain to remove sheep only."