Stephen M. Apatow
Director of Research and Development 
Humanitarian Resource Institute Biodefense Reference Library
Eastern USA: (203) 668-0282   Western USA: (775) 884-4680
Internet: http://www.humanitarian.net/biodefense
Email: s.m.apatow@humanitarian.net

10 MILLION ANIMALS SLAUGHTERED IN FOOT AND MOUTH CULL - STATISTICS HEIGHTEN IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL SECURITY PRIORITIES OUTLINED BY VETERINARY AND SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS

Biodefense Reference Library: In The Spotlight
January 23, 2002: UK Telegraph: 10 million animals were slaughtered in foot and mouth cull: [Edited]

·  The number of animals slaughtered in the foot and mouth outbreak could be as high as 10 million - more than twice as high as official Government figures.

·  The Government said that 4,068,000 animals were culled between the first case on Feb 20 and the 2,030th and last case detected on Sept 30. But the commission says that the true total is 10,849,000.

·  The official figures do not include two million animals slaughtered for welfare reasons such as dwindling feed and space. The National Farmers' Union included these in its estimates.

·  But according to Jane Connor, economic forecaster at the Meat and Livestock Commission, many more animals were overlooked because they were either killed with their mothers - and counted as only one animal - or because they were killed after foot and mouth had closed the market for them, in which case they were not counted at all.

·  According to her calculations, at least 1.2 lambs "at foot" were killed with each breeding sheep - amounting to four million lambs slaughtered but not counted.

·  And the official toll of 595,000 cattle did not include 100,000 calves and 50,000 calves close to birth that were killed with them, the commission said. About 500,000 lambs were killed in the light lamb disposal plan because they were considered unsellable.

ALSO IN THE SPOTLIGHT

·  1.16, 2002: Agricultural Security: Veterinary and Scientific Experts Outline Priority Issues 

·  1.12.2002 (The Vet Record): Developing policy on FMD - International Conference on Prevention and Control of Foot and Mouth Disease, 12 - 13 December 2001, Charlemagne - Bruxelles: Papers & Slides
 

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