h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I wish I knew why the authorities are so against vaccination. Something is mumbled that the UK will lose their disease free status and won't be able to export any animals. At the rate that the culls are progressing there won't be any animals to export. One hears stories that it will take ten years to reastablish the sheep herds that are free roaming in the fells in the Lake District if they are slaughtered but oh no we can't vaccinate. Perhaps I'm missing the point but surely losing pedigree and rare blood lines is more important than losing disease free status for a year or so.

Indeed!
I also heard today that the milk supply is in danger of almost drying up. They are having to cull so many diary cattle, which don't have the disease but are in the 'circles of death'.
A major worry must surely be that farmers will just give up, not keep animals and concentrate on crops... genetically engineered or otherwise.
Not a happy thought for people who perhaps have already turned to diary products rather then meat.
Will butter, cream and cheese be in short supply next I wonder!

shazz

I too have heard those mumblings. The fact that heards are desease free makes it easir to export but not impossible. It also seems that we need permission from the EC to enter a vacination program, which I understand has been given.

Even Vets are at odds with each other. Some are for and some are against. It also seems that if we do treat the animals, it will not stop those infected from spreading the desease.

Another thing that has cropt up is they are not sure if injected animal foo and byproducts can be eaten.

This I have heard is rubbish. The Hong Kong authorities have had a vacination program in hand for a long time and they sell their meat, even infected meat for human consumption without any side affects being noted.

With so many conflicting views, of which many are unsubstantuated - how do we go on.

The damage has been done as far as people coming here for their hols. Many have cancelled. Yet only some areas are infected - I live in the UK and do not expect to become a carrier. In fact the chances of it coming close to me are millions to 1 and I visit farms all the time.

So I think the media have gone out of control over this one.

Yet I still think that things were done to late and we are suffering for it, or will be, through high prices and loss of income.

There are still dead animals that have not been delt with for days and they can spread the desease faster via wild life. Also I hear of a case in Wales, where the slaughtered animals were taken to a non-infected area to be buried - What lunacy is this.

Excuse the moderater, but a real cock up

PS - I am sorry I have not answered this post very quickly but IRL - things are very hectic.
vegiman

Don't apologise Veggie... I can imagine that current circumstances are making it very difficult for you also.

I just know that, being an expat, I sympathise fully with the general state of affairs and am sad that I would really like to bring some REAL cheese home to Holland when I next visit England, but can't...

shazz

Apart from not being able to find the quality of produce at the right price - Its not affecting me too much, The wet earth is the main bug bare. I have never known the ground to be so wet.

Some farms on the south coast normally plant over 1000 acres of potatoes between them. Only 15 acres have actually been done to date.
This is very bad news.

The best situated farms for a change, are the ones who grow on a hillside. The ground dries up quickly in these areas.

veg

PS Sorry about your cheese

Oh no No clotted cream teas or stilton cheese - Please vaccinate!

The EC has now given permission but they (MAFF etc) are still dillydalling whether or not too vaccinate. I'm quite intrigued that farmers are quite "happy" to see their stock literally going up in flames rather than vaccinate.

I'm so fed up of this wet ground - its like a sponge that cannot take up anymore water so as soon as it rains everything is reduced to mud. Far more suitable for pigs than humans. Mind you pigs are rapidly becoming an endangered species so then mud won't be favourable for anything.I can't wade in the mud even with my wellies on at the moment as all the local walks around are out of bounds.. Hopefully the countryside will start opening soon or there will be a lot of frustrated townies around. At least I'm not a farmer.

If it gets any wetter - we'll be stuck in the mud and take root ourselves

Been a nice day here in the south east but it ended in rain again.
veg

If it gets any wetter - we'll be stuck in the mud and take root ourselves

Been a nice day here in the south east but it ended in rain again.
veg

I think it's the big farmers who don't want to vaccinate as they have the biggest interest in exporting. Wasn't there a terrible dust up between farmers and either the police or army yesterday and a policeman (or soldier) got injured by a mechanical digger? I missed most of the story but I got the impression that it was farmers trying to protect their uninfected stock.