The cattle and sheep industries are very stratified, unlike the pig industry, which operates under a 20-day standstill rule. If the future is this type of regulation then farmers need to change their businesses to adapt.Ī permanent standstill rule will also mean the end of sheep farming on many mixed units that are primarily geared to beef production, because they cant mix movement and sales, he adds. The industry needs to know where it is heading, he says. Folk cant operate their businesses with the 21-day standstill in place."
In Scotland, the 21-day rule has been operating even after markets reopened in early September.īrian Pack, chief executive of the ANM Group, reckons it is strangling livestock farming. The NBA warns that grassland farmers will resist the 21-day standstill, so the government needs to find an alternative. Govern-ment vets give every sign that their minds are made up and nothing we can say can change them." "Unfortunately, the State Veterinary Service appears to be determined to press ahead against industry advice with a rule that is flawed at a practical level. The omens are good so far, say most industry pundits.īut while store cattle and primestock sales will be a massive boost to the industry, NBA chairman Robert Robinson says it still has to convince DEFRA vets that a permanent 21-day rule will be extremely damaging if it remains. The announcement will herald good news for cattle and slaughter sheep sales, which are expected to restart from early February, if serology testing finds no live foot-and-mouth virus in sheep. MOVES to reopen livestock markets look set to be announced soon, according to sources close to the negotiations.Īnd it appears that industry pressure, including that from hundreds of farmers weekly readers who have backed our Save Our Markets campaign has played a key role. Livestock markets look set to reopen in February next year,īut industry leaders are still fighting to ensure that theĢ1-day rule does not become a permanent control measure Make firm stand against Draconian 21-day rule