Friday, 21 2007

Tough Times

The re-emergence of foot and mouth disease with livestock movement restrictions has coincided with a massive rise in the price of wheat and other foodstuffs. This is putting huge pressure on the livestock sector.

In the UK the sheep industry is stratified with particular breeds occupying specific environments to which they are adapted. These sheep are connected by the movement of lambs and older animals from higher to lower ground with most of this movement occurring in the early autumn period. Movement restrictions at this time of year significantly disrupt both cashflow and next years breeding program.

The pig industry quickly suffers from movement restrictions as animals cannot move between breeding, growing and finishing units - often on different farms. Pig production is a year round business and with facilities being utilised to the full, there are few periods when animals can be retained longer than planned - the next batch are only ever a few days behind. This puts enormous pressure on housing with welfare implications for the animals and costs for the farmers. This year the financial situation has been further aggravated by the massive rise in the worldwide price of wheat and other feeds.

In the dairy and beef sectors, movement restrictions disrupt access to grazing and force farmers to feed conserved forage early and at considerable cost. Animals that would normally move to or from farms (incoming heifers and outgoing calves) get stuck in the wrong place disrupting breeding and sales income. This bad news for beef and dairy farmers as a large proportion of the national herd calves through the autumn months.

The implications of foot and mouth stretch far beyond the Surrey surveillance zones and are costing the industry millions by the day so it is with some relief that Defra has announced an easing of the movement restrictions. More are urgently required. Please see the bookmark - movement licences.