-1.1 C
Inverness
Thursday, February 13, 2025

Farmers on Alert as Foot And Mouth Risk Rises Across The UK

- Advertisement -

The threat of foot and mouth disease (FMD) has escalated after a confirmed case in water buffalo in Brandenburg, Germany, leading the UK to raise its risk level to medium.

Imports of cattle, pigs, sheep, and related animal products from Germany have been banned in a swift move to protect farmers, livestock, and food security across the country.

While FMD poses no danger to human health, it is a highly contagious virus that can devastate cattle, sheep, pigs, and other cloven-hoofed animals, spreading rapidly through direct contact or even via airborne transmission.

The Scottish Government is working closely with German authorities and UK counterparts to monitor the situation and take any necessary action to keep Scotland’s livestock safe.

Scotland’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Sheila Voas, acknowledged the concern this development will cause within farming communities and stressed the importance of strict biosecurity and vigilance on farms.

Voas highlighted that Scotland has not seen a case of FMD since 2001, a year that left a lasting impact on farming communities, and believes the lessons learned since then can help avoid a repeat of that devastation.

She urged farmers to remain alert for signs of the disease, which are usually obvious in cattle and pigs but can be harder to detect in sheep, making it crucial for sheep farmers to be especially watchful.

Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie reassured farmers that the Scottish Government is well-prepared to handle the risk, thanks in part to Exercise Blackthorn, a simulation in 2018 that tested the nation’s response to a large-scale FMD outbreak.

Fairlie called on livestock keepers to comply with their legal duty to report any suspicions of FMD immediately to the local Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) Field Services Office to ensure quick action is taken.

John Ritchie, NFU Scotland’s Livestock Committee Vice-Chair, echoed these concerns, describing FMD as a highly contagious disease with the potential to destroy herds and devastate farming businesses if not managed effectively.

Ritchie noted that while the disease is not currently present in the UK, its previous outbreak in 2001 remains a vivid memory for many farmers and has shaped the robust livestock traceability systems now in place.

He welcomed the import restrictions as a vital measure to protect the UK’s livestock sector and emphasised the need for tighter and more consistent border security to prevent the spread of animal diseases.

Ritchie also urged farmers to maintain strict on-farm biosecurity, follow the swill feeding ban, and promptly report any symptoms in their livestock, particularly as sheep may not show clear signs of the disease.

The farming community is united in its determination to prevent another outbreak, drawing on past experience and the strength of collaborative efforts to safeguard Scotland’s agriculture from this significant threat.

With robust surveillance systems, government support, and farmer vigilance, Scotland is prepared to defend against this heightened risk and protect its vital livestock sector.

- Advertisement -
Latest news
- Advertisement -spot_img
Related news
- Advertisement -spot_imgspot_img