IF the Government can order healthy animals to be slaughtered to reduce the risk of foot and mouth spreading, surely they can order limited vaccination for the same reason. Although the number of new cases is declining, cattle are about to be let out of winter quarters and sheep are desperate to be moved to summer pastures.
Surely it makes sense to protect these animals with vaccination, particularly hefted flocks that pass local knowledge from generation to generation and rare breeds?
The risks to human health from burning potentially BSE infected cattle are far greater than any risks associated with vaccination. The international meat trade is worth far less to our economy than the tourist trade which will be lost this summer if large scale culling continues in the coming months. Our upland landscape will be irreversibly damaged if the traditional sheep that have grazed the hills since the enclosures are wiped out.
Already there are voices from within the farming community and the NFU, questioning the continued reluctance to even selectively vaccinate. The Government must bite the bullet now, and start a selective vaccination programme immediately, before this Pandora's Box is fully opened.
York Green Party,
Broadway West,
York.
Updated: 10:50 Tuesday, May 01, 2001
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article