Sheep Veterinary Society
Division of the British Veterinary Association

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Events in North Yorkshire, Lancashire and Southern Scotland have dispelled the myth that the FMD situation has abated.

Concerns have been expressed about increasing complacency with regard to biosecurity issues. Licencing requirements for the movement of livestock help to track the spread of disease, but in they will not prevent disease from entering a farm and any relaxation in requirements must not be translated into reduced vigilance. 

It is important that SVS members ensure that their clients continue to adhere to best practices with regards to decontamination and to movement of stock, personnel and agricultural equipment irrespective of whether they are located in a PFA, ARA or IA.

Shearing is almost upon us and, although contract shearers will not be licenced until 1^st of June, there are already reports of farmers making use of these services in controlled areas. In some situations, shearers have also been used to carry out dagging operations due to concerns about fly-strike as a result of the recent warm weather. There is a real risk that unregulated movement of contractors between farms may pose a significant risk to the continued spread of disease and must be discouraged wherever possible. In the meantime, farmers should be urged to continue shear and dag their own stock wherever possible.

Further information relating to bio-security measures and licensing of contract shearers can be found on the DEFRA website at:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/diseases/fmd/farmers/key.asp