FFP > Livestock Breeding Index


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Livestock Breeding > [Direct Victim ¦ Indirect Victim ¦ Vaccination ¦ Government Support]
ONE YEAR AFTER THE FOOT AND MOUTH CRISIS: HOW ARE LIVESTOCK FARMERS RECOVERING?
Foot and mouth devastated British farming in 2001. It affected 10,000 farms, resulted in the slaughter of 6 million animals, and cost the country several billion pounds. All livestock farmers were affected by the epidemic whether or not their farms caught the disease. It's now a year since the end of the crisis; time to judge the industry's resilience. Louise Bardsley reports.

'Keep Out' signs were displayed across the UK during Foot and Mouth crisis

TWO LEICESTERSHIRE DAIRY FARMS - RECOVERY COMPARED

THE DIRECT VICTIM - The first case of foot and mouth in Leicestershire ruined its victims' dairy.

THE INDIRECT VICTIM - Nearby farms escaped the disease but not its effects. Herds are recovering faster than markets.

A British livestock farm in November 2002 (© Louise Bardsley)

WHY CULLING, NOT VACCINATION? - Many would rather have seen vaccination than mass culling. Head Vet explains why this wouldn't have worked.

WHAT SUPPORT DID FARMERS RECEIVE? - Insufficient government compensation may be hindering farmers' recovery.