Farmer finds body parts after slaughter

Carcasses are moved by loaders after a cull

An investigation is being launched after a farmer says animals' body parts were left strewn on his property.

Steve Lumley says debris including a lamb's head and shoulders, legs and a cow's hoof was scattered in sheds at his farm in Thirlby, North Yorkshire.

A syringe containing blood was also spotted following a government slaughter carried out at his farm.

He also believes that animals, such as badgers or a dog, may have carried off one of the body parts, compromising the success of the cull as a barrier against spreading infection from foot-and-mouth disease.

Mr Lumley said: "I was having a walk around the farm after the slaughtermen had left and I could see these parts lying around.

A swift clean-up operation is vital to stop infection

"Most of the carcasses are collected in a loader and parts will be sheared off as they are scooped up.

"But you would also expect the team to clean up after itself."

Mr Lumley told officials from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) which immediately sent workers to clear up the site.

'Infection risk'

He added: "Everything should have been cleaned up when the team left.

"I also noticed that a leg of lamb which had been left near the shed had vanished when I returned so I would guess it has been taken by an animal.

"We were not infected with foot-and-mouth but if we had been that would surely have been an infection risk."

An immediate investigation is being launched to check the complaints which have been raised about the culling

Defra spokeswoman

A team of about 75 people, including vets, slaughtemen, drivers, soldiers and labourers, spent two days at Mr Lumley's farm culling 2,900 sheep and 400 cattle.

Although the farm had not suffered a confirmed case of the virus, the animals were killed as part of Defra's policy to create "firebreaks" around confirmed infection sites.

Mr Lumley, who started his herd of cattle in 1986 with just eight animals, said: "It is very distressing for this to happen and it is even more so if you feel that it has not served any purpose in stopping the spread of the disease."

'Thoroughly cleansed'

A spokeswoman for Defra said: "Our policy is to remove all carcasses and animal waste immediately after slaughter.

"In view of this an immediate investigation is being launched to check the complaints which have been raised about the culling.

"Officials will be going immediately to check the site which will then be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected."

Mr Lumley's farm is fewer than five miles from pig farms around Thirsk which are anxiously waiting to see if the virus spreads into their herds.