Sheep Veterinary Society
Division of the British Veterinary Association

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In many areas foot and mouth disease has already infected sheep flocks. The spread within sheep flocks may be slow and there is real risk that at turnout the cattle will be exposed to infection from sheep flocks who are carrying the disease without showing signs. Perhaps even your own sheep may have the infection and are carriers of the disease?

Preventing foot and mouth disease from entering the cattle herd requires planning and thinking about how you can run your farm keeping your cattle free of the disease.

Do

Keep your stock in for as long as possible. Infected sheep do not generate huge amounts of virus and may not spread the infection over large distances. 

        Graze your cattle away from sheep; ideally a field away, or separated by a river, road, or other geographical feature.

        Ensure your fencing is secure to prevent stock from straying.

        Respect your neighbours and discuss with them how you can avoid any contact between stock.

        Manage any stock kept away from the main farm separately. Dedicate someone to deal with them and use a separate vehicle and equipment.

        Graze cattle on pastures which may have been grazed by sheep or other stock only after a break of a month to allow any virus contamination to subside.

        Talk to your vet for specific advice on keeping your stock healthy and free of disease.

Do Not

        Spread infection from one unit to another. Restrict vehicle movements and disinfect vehicles, hands and clothes.

        Visit other farms or help at other farms.

        Become complacent. Foot and Mouth control will take some months to achieve. Disinfection must become a routine for 2001.

These notes have been produced by the British Cattle Veterinary Association and the National Farmers Union. For more details on keeping your farm free of foot and mouth visit www.BCVA.org.uk, or www.MAFF.org.uk.