New disease rules for autumn

Government vets are cautious about new scares

A ban on transporting sheep out of Devon is among new rules which have been announced as the fight against foot-and-mouth heads into autumn.

The aim is to allow animals to be moved to lower ground in the colder weather without spreading the disease, which continues to be reported in pockets across the country.

Farmers in Leicestershire are awaiting test results for a suspected outbreak of the disease - the first in four months.

Disease in the UK

Total cases: 2,013

Slaughtered: 3,851,000

Awaiting slaughter: 12,000

Awaiting disposal:1,000

A government spokesman said initial results have proved negative, but the results of a second set of tests would not be available until later on Tuesday or possibly Wednesday.

But Scotland has been announced officially free of foot-and-mouth, and the last infection restrictions have been lifted.

Agriculture minister Ross Finnie welcomed the news, but warned farmers they must still continue to be on their guard in case it is brought in from elsewhere.

Three categories

Rural affairs minister Margaret Beckett outlined details of the precautions, which come into force next week, on Tuesday.

Under the rules the country is divided into three categories - "high risk", "at risk" and "disease-free" - by county.

Counties considered high risk will be subjected to stricter controls than those free of the disease, where restrictions on animal movements will be lessened.

Overall, there will be more movement of livestock, but under very tight controls.

The government described the new regulations as a "compromise" between the welfare needs of animals, and the need to continue fighting the disease.

Government vets are being cautious following the re-appearance of the disease in Northumberland after months when no new cases were confirmed in the county.

Leicestershire scare

The autumn restrictions mean sheep cannot be moved out of Devon until further tests show that the region is completely clear of the disease.

The county has seen no new cases for almost three months - but it was one of the worst-hit counties, with 173 cases out of the UK's total of 2,013 so far.

There is concern that recent blood samples taken from sheep in the county show the presence of foot-and-mouth antibodies, indicating that infection could still be lurking in the area.

In Leicestershire cattle on two farms were found with suspected symptoms of the disease at the weekend.

Emergency restrictions have been imposed on farms near Hinckley and Loughborough and 37 cattle have been slaughtered as a precaution.

Although initial tests have proved negative, farmers cannot be sure they are in the clear until the entire series of blood tests has been assessed.

Farmers in the area are hoping that the lesions in the cows' mouths - feared to be a symptom of the disease - were actually cuts from brambles.