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ANXIOUS: Farmer Mark Cheetham.
Bluetongue is still a threat
by Sue Carr2/ 4/2008
IT may be hundreds of miles away but one farmer says the threat of blue- tongue still keeps him awake at night.
Since the first outbreak was reported in September last year, the devastating disease spread by midges has been found on more than 120 sites in south and south east England.
Protection zones sprung up around the country, meaning farmers were restricted as to where they could move livestock and could not sell cattle outside their zone. Six months on, the Advertiser spoke to one farmer who says it’s always on his mind.
Mark Cheetham owns Lowend Farm, a dairy farm off Apple Street in Hattersley with around 250 cattle.
"I could probably buy cattle from three-quarters of the country, but I can only sell in the zone I’m in," said Mark, 45.
"It did give us problems last year because we had a lot of customers outside the zone which we weren’t able to sell cattle too. We ended up with 25 per cent more cattle than we had room for. We were overcrowded and our cashflow was affected because I couldn’t sell the cattle ready for sale. We have since rectified these matters but it is still a worry, especially because if you lose your cattle you don’t get any compensation. You lie in bed at night thinking about it, but you have got to move forward."
The killer infection, which causes ulcers, lameness and internal bleeding, can wipe out 70 per cent of herds or flocks in two weeks. But help could soon be at hand thanks to a new vaccination which should be available next month, starting in the worst hit areas.
Tameside, Oldham, Stockport and Rochdale are included in the current protection zone along with large parts of Cheshire.
For more information visit www.defra.gov.uk.
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20/04/2008 at 03:06