Heartbreak for bluetongue farmer

Richard Storer tells of his heartbreak at losing two animals

The farmer at the centre of the bluetongue virus in Suffolk has been speaking about the heartbreak of having to kill two of his rare-breed cattle.

Richard Storer, who runs Baylham Rare Breeds Farm near Ipswich, said dealing with the effects of the virus had been stressful for his family and staff.

He was still waiting for results of tests carried out by government vets on flocks of sheep which he also keeps.

"It's heartbreaking as they're almost part of the family," Mr Storer said.

He said the day a second animal had to be put down was worse than when vets killed Debbie the Highland cow that was the first in Britain to contract the virus.

"Lorraine, an Old Gloucester cow, had no visible problems whatsoever she looked healthy and had been at the farm for a long time.

Fears for animals

"She looked like a perfectly fit healthy cow, but she was carrying this virus and she had to be put down, so she's gone.

"Half way through a blood collection following tests on pygmy goats and many other animals at the farm as well as the large flocks of sheep grazing nearby, we had a phone call from the ministry vet.

"We were given the bad news that one of our other cows, who gave blood on the previous day, had proved positive and was carrying the Bluetongue virus.

"They added that she would have to be slaughtered without delay. From the eartag number that the ministry had passed over the phone, we knew that it was one of our Old Gloucesters Hasbro Lorraine who came to us as a young heifer in 1994 from her breeder's herd in Norfolk.

"She was brought indoors and put in a stable. Soon afterwards the ministry vet arrived and she was put down."

Movement restrictions

Mr Storer runs the rare breeds farm and other agricultural activities with the help of his wife and son, who is the stock manager.

The staff look after hundreds of visitors and many school parties that come to the farm to see the rare breeds and get a taste of life in the country.

Mr Storer added: "One of the many phone calls we have received came from a woman in Felixstowe. She said three weeks ago Felixstowe was invaded by great clouds of midges coming off the sea."

Bluetongue is a virus carried by midges and the government's food and farming department Defra has said it is likely the insects had been blown by winds across the North Sea from mainland Europe where there had been several hundred cases in France, Germany and the low countries.

Vets were now also taking blood samples from 180 cows owned by Robin Richards, who farms down the road from Baylham Rare Breeds Farm.

He said he would be surprised if the virus did not affect at least some of his cattle, but he hoped the numbers would be low.

"If a midge has gone there, another midge could have come here, so I am prepared. I have come to terms with the probability of a couple."