Devon's fears over animal welfare

A harsh autumn is in store on Devon farms

BBC News Online's Simon Pipe reports

Farmers in Devon waited with trepidation for the government to rule on its foot-and-mouth restrictions.

They have always feared the disease returning, but they also dreaded the prospect of seeing animals die of hunger or cold, unable to be sheltered from the worst that autumn can bring.

When the damp mists settle over the West Country, pleasant countryside becomes harsh territory. Pasture turns to quagmire.

The farmers have witnessed harrowing scenes this year, with 173 outbreaks in the county. Only Cumbria has fared worse.

The disease is not as bad as the consequences of not moving the animals to somewhere with decent accommodation, out of the weather and not puddling around up to their bellies in mud

Ian Johnson, NFU spokesman

In the spring, new-born lambs died for want of shelter, or at least a patch of dry ground. No farmer dared move them.

Farmers' leaders have bargained hard with ministers and officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Cold logic says all movement must continue to be banned to minimise all risk of the disease being carried to new areas.

Devon has gone three months without a new outbreak, but the virus can lie dormant for half a year.

Compassion, though, argues the other way.

'Balancing act'

"It's a difficult balancing act," said Ian Johnson, regional spokesman for the National Farmers Union (NFU).

"The government is being given logistical advice by statisticians. It's different on the ground.

Animal welfare has suffered in the crisis

"There comes a point where the cure is worse than the disease."

A proposal to continue to restrict sheep movements into the autumn was leaked before Tuesday's announcement by the Rural Affairs Secretary Margaret Beckett.

She said that sheep could be moved within Devon to bring them down off the exposed hills, but they could not be transported beyond the county boundary, for a few weeks at least.

"It's not welcome, but it's understandable," said Mr Johnson. "We can probably put up with it."

'Decent accommodation'

Cattle and pigs can now be moved freely within the county or to other "at risk" areas - but nowhere else.

"Cattle suffer terribly with foot-and-mouth," said Mr Johnson. "It affects them quickly and the results are horrible.

The pyres are out, but the anguish goes on

"But the disease is not as bad as the consequences of not moving the animals to somewhere with decent accommodation, out of the weather and not puddling around up to their bellies in mud.

"There are 40,000 store cattle spread across the county, waiting to be sent to other farms for breeding and finishing.

"They are in places that would be unsuitable for any length of time, because of a lack of housing, or a decent food supply.

"It's a welfare issue - a real prospect of animals dying of cold or starving to death."

Farmers are now spared that prospect.