Movements of livestock direct to slaughter and the collection of fallen stock from farms, subject to general licenses, resumed on Thursday (August 9).

NFU President Peter Kendall said this was a ‘measured and very necessary first step on the road towards getting the industry back to normal and maintaining supplies of home-produced meat to consumers’.

He warned, however, that it should not be taken as a signal to ‘drop our guard’ and urged livestock farmers to ‘remain vigilant, check their stock regularly and report anything suspicious immediately’.

He said the NFU was working closely with Defra and other industry stakeholders to unwind movement restrictions as quickly as possible without compromising disease control.

“The next step, on which we are in active discussion with Defra, is to introduce arrangements that will allow animals to be moved on welfare grounds, subject of course to appropriate safeguards.

“We recognise there are growing concerns over animal welfare, ranging from cattle due to calve away from the farm, through shortages of forage to pigs needing to move to suitable housing after weaning,” Mr Kendall said.

The resumption of movements to slaughter has prompted calls from the farming industry for processors and farmers not to take advantage of the current situation.

National Sheep Association chief executive Peter Morris said: “It is good to get trade moving again as people have bills to pay and stock that are ready to sell. However farmers should not panic sell as this will not help prices in what has the potential to be a difficult period of trading.

Source: Farmers Guardian