foot and mouth

[sikamalc]

This is different to what they are saying on the BBC news, oh well hopefully it will be lifted by the end of the week.

Lets hope so, we have a serious amount of Fallow on my friends land at the moment.

 

[Sycomb]

Its all explained over on Deertalking

 

[Steve]

Update

Hi Gerry

Thanks for posting that link today. Looks like venison's off the menu for a little longer.

S

 

[Cossack]

From DeerTalking

Courtesy of the Deer Talking web site

http://www.deertalking.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1186407113


MPORTANT NEWS ITEM - Outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease

UPDATE - 8th August

It is being widely reported in the media that the restriction on movements of livestock and carcasses in the restricted zone is being lifted from midnight. Stalkers should be aware that there are specific conditions attached to the easing of the ban on movements, the purposes of which are to enable live animals to be taken directly to an abattoirs for slaughter and for fallen stock to be collected from farms.

At the time of this update (21:00), the DEFRA website states:

"The FMDV Order (2006) requires that in a Restricted Zone, no person shall hold or take part in a stalk and that no shooting of deer shall take place except under authority of a license.

The exception is that the occupier of land as well as members of his household as well as persons employed as beaters as well as a shooting party of no more than 3 persons authorised by the occupier may shoot deer found on that land. However the carcases cannot me moved off the premises.

At this time all restrictions in a Restricted Zone are in place and that no licences will be issued. Therefore schedule 7 of the order stands in its entirety".

DEFRA Website (08/08/07):

 

[Steve]

Yeah, I saw that. But it's yesterday's news. As far as I can see, apart from the link that Gerry put up here, there's been nothing new today from DEFRA.

S

 

[Cossack]

Yeah, I saw that. But it's yesterday's news. As far as I can see, apart from the link that Gerry put up here, there's been nothing new today from DEFRA.

S

The statement posted from the Deer talking site whilst not today's news does offer any easier understood explanation of the current restrictions than the one contained in Gerrys link. IMO

Just trying to help those interested parties who might not necessarily be totally conversant with the official language of governmental, ministerial, or departmental notifications.

 

[Rob Mac]

Just read this on the BASC site:

Restricted zone (Great Britain)

All shooting and game management activities may continue as normal except for the shooting of deer. Currently game shooting will not be affected outside of the 3 km Protection zone.

Northern Ireland

There are no restrictions as Northern Ireland is outside the restricted zone

England

Defra guidance states that no more than three people may shoot deer with the authorisation of the occupier.

Any carcasses of deer killed for human consumption can be moved off the premises of origin to the game larder, a Game Handling Establishment (GHE) or any wholesale/retail remises as necessary to the end consumer.

You may not move trophies or any other animal by-product from the deer off the premises where the deer was shot

General licence for the movement of susceptible animals injured as a result of road traffic accidents in a Restricted Zone (Defra)

General licence for the movement of carcases from premises in a Restricted Zone (Defra)

Scotland

According to the Scottish Executive no more than three people may shoot deer with the authorisation of the occupier

The Scottish Executive has issued a general licence which permits the movement of deer carcasses. This means that carcasses or parts of carcasses, including trophies, may now be moved anywhere within Scotland.

The general licence can be viewed by clicking here.

The Deer Commission for Scotland - Specific Q&A Information For Scottish Deer Sector

Wales

Guidance is still being awaited (10th August)

Feral Boar and goats: There is no prohibition on moving the carcasses of feral boar or goats in the restriction zone.

Does this mean we back to business as usual. I hope so. The export of venison out of the UK is still banned because we've lost our status as a F&M free zone - I wonder what the price of venison at the dealers will be. Still there's a little room left in the freezer.

Cheers,

Rob

 

[smithp18]

Movement of the deer carcasses’

Hi All,
Much the same as BASC,
According to the BDS web site we are back in business allowing the movement of the deer carcasses’ from the premises’ that they were shoot. Providing it is for Human consumption.
But just to clarify I have this right!, is this how it reads to you lads out there?.

Smithy.

 

[mole trapper]

Looking at the BASC,s interpretation it would appear to be ok, but i looked at the DEFRA latest bulletin and it did not appear so clear to me, Maybe thats why i only catch moles and rabbits for a living.
What i do know though is i have a farmer giving me grief about the fallow and i dont want to P him off, but i dont want to fall foul of the law either.

 

[smithp18]

Hi Mole trapper,
I’m like you on this, it’s just not clear where we all stand or should I say, its not clear to me.
BDS, BASC are not saying the same clear consistent message and yet all info is supposedly coming from the same source DEFRA !!!.
The information available can be interrupted either way, Its looks ok to me and we are back to normal out side the restricted zones, But I’m sure that I will miss something in the a wording somewhere and get it all wrong.

Smithy

 

[deer-fox]

Foot & Mouth

I have heard along the grape vine that another case of Foot & Mouth has been confirmed today 12/09/07 in Surry
Anyone else heard anything?

 

[smithp18]

Foot & Mouth

Hi deer-fox,
Unfortunately it would appear you are correct, another case as been detected in Surry 10 miles from the Laboratory where the last cases a month ago came from.
I hope this is the only isolated case if proven and lets keep our fingers crossed for the farmers in that area and agriculture in general across Great Britain.
One further point, Maybe this time, such as BDS, BASC etc have learnt from there poor information release last time and keep up to date info on there web sites and post new information as it is made available.

Smithy

 

[Pete E]

Deleted by User

 

[sikamalc]

I have just spoken with Defra, and they have told me that stalking is still allowed outside the area in Surrey, and that they are awaiting a descision from the government at about 7pm tonight?

It would seem yet again that really confusion reigns within a government department.

 

[Rob Mac]

Yes, it looks like it's back to the bad old days. This is the latest I could find:

Update from the BBC

A new case of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in Surrey, government sources have told the BBC. A 10 km (6.2 mile) control zone on the affected farm near Egham has been put in place, and cattle from the herd are being culled. A national movement ban is in effect to prevent the disease spreading from Milton Park Farm, Stroude Road.

Statement from DEFRA

Foot and Mouth Disease: temporary control zone established in Surrey

Update: 2:45pm, 12 September
Initial laboratory tests on the samples taken this morning from the cattle on the holding in Surrey where disease was suspected have indicated the presence of Foot and Mouth Disease.

On the basis of these initial laboratory results and clinical symptoms UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Debby Reynolds has confirmed Foot and Mouth Disease. The farm comprises a number of separate parcels of land and a single protection zone will be put in place which extends a three kilometres radius from each of them, and a surveillance zone of 10 kilometres radius beyond that. Footpaths will be closed in the protection zone.

A movement ban of cattle, sheep, pigs and other ruminants has now been imposed in England and parallel arrangements are being made by the Scottish and Welsh administrations. No movements of susceptible animals are allowed except under licence. The licence conditions may vary between England, Scotland and Wales.

Debby Reynolds said:

"At this stage we have not identified the strain or origin of this outbreak. The situation remains uncertain, and I urge all animal keepers to be vigilant for signs of disease, practice stringent biosecurity measures, including the movement ban and licensing conditions."

All animals currently in transit should continue to their destination where they should remain in place.

The European Commission has been informed.

For further information go to www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth

 

[Rob Mac]

More F&M

It is a confusing picture. Sikamalc has been told one thing and on the DEFRA site it says that England is a 'Restricted Zone' and that no stalking is permitted without license - see below from the DEFRA site.

Deer and gamebirds
The Deer Initiative is providing deer management advice and support to the Food and Farming Group (FFG) during the FMDV outbreak. They have confirmed that 3 species of deer are known to exist in Surrey, Roe deer at a high density, Muntjac at a medium density and isolated herds of fallow deer. In addition the location of deer farms and park deer herds are known.

There no plans to attempt to restrict wild deer movements as construction of effective fencing would cause dispersal of deer and could result in welfare issues.

There is no targeted surveillance for Foot and Mouth Disease in deer. In the surveillance zone, Animal Health officers are visiting each farm to examine livestock and will be able to report any sick wild deer in which case appropriate action would be taken. Stakeholders are requested that sick deer on the infected premises only are reported to the Divisional Veterinary Manager. The Deer Initiative have advice on signs to look for and we would ask all those handling deer, stalkers, game dealers etc to be vigilant at this time. www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk.

The FMDV Order (2006) requires that in a Restricted Zone, no person shall hold or take part in a stalk and that no shooting of deer shall take place except under authority of a license.

The exception is that the occupier of land as well as members of his household as well as persons employed as beaters as well as a shooting party of no more than 3 persons authorised by the occupier may shoot deer found on that land. However the carcases cannot me moved off the premises.

At this time all restrictions in a Restricted Zone are in place and that no licences will be issued. Therefore schedule 7 of the order stands in its entirety.

“Pest” birds (birds listed on General Licence WLF18 (Canada goose, crow, collared dove, great black-backed gull, lesser black-backed gull, herring gull, jackdaw, jay, magpie, feral pigeon, rook and woodpigeon). Game bird refers to pheasants, partridges, etc. and ground game refers to rabbits and hares), gamebirds, and ground game can only be shot in Protection Zones by:

the occupier of any land, members of his household, persons employed by him as beaters and any member of a shooting party of not more than three persons authorised by him on the occupiers’ land; or,
anyone authorised under a licence granted by the Secretary of State.
There are no biosecurity restrictions to “pest” bird, gamebird or ground game shooting activities within and outside of the Surveillance Zone. It would be prudent to comply with good biosecurity, especially within the Surveillance Zone.

 

[sikamalc]

Hi Rob, yes I agree, I have read all of the available information, but decided to call Defra, to clarify the situation. They advised me to keep watching their website and the BBC, and could add no more information. But as I have said they are awaiting a reply from the Government (cobra) meeting of this evening?

Our only hope I think is that the strain of virus is the same as the one that escaped from the research station, and that it is confined to the area. An outright enforcement of movement of all cloven hoofed animals again, will the the death nail for a great many farmers. Plus it will have a wide ranging impact on the stalking season, which is about to come into full swing.

 

[morena]

Hi All.
Just had an email forwarded to me from Erlend Barclay about F&M restrictions DCS website to be updated shortly www.dcs.gov.uk

!!!!!!*****
Morena

 

[sikamalc]

Cheers morena. So you can still stalk, but you cannot remove the carcase from the estate. This is what I have also been told by a good friend of mine who is the head keeper for a titled estate, and who also knows the government area vet.

Lets hope this whole incident is cleared away quickly.

 

[Rob Mac]

F&M

Foot and Mouth Disease



UPDATE at 0750 Thursday 13th SEPTEMBER 2007



England



Defra has confirmed to BBC News that the strain of FMD in Surrey is the same as that found in the previous outbreak in the county. There is no update on the suspected outbreak in Norfolk.



Scotland



The following notice has been issued in scotland:



Until further notice, deer shooting in parties of no more than three persons and the movement of deer carcases to a larder on the same estate can be done without a licence. Stalking in larger parties and movement of carcases from a larder can only be carried out under licence. Licences are not currently being issued. When available, these can be sought from your local animal health office. There are 5 offices in Scotland: Ayr 01292 291350; Galashiels 01896 758806; Inverness 01463 253098; Inverurie 01467 626300; Perth 01738 602211.

This information is available on the Deer Commission for Scotland website it should be monitored on a regular basis to check for any updated information - www.dcs.gov.uk

There has been no update on the suspected outbreak in Larnarkshire.